Automobile Yearbook 62 by INFOPRO DIGITAL

AY62-jacket_AA62 jacket 17/11/14 17:04 Page1

2014/15

Automobile Year n° 61 2013/2014

Le Mans 24 Hours 2014

In the 62nd Automobile Yearbook you can relive all the events that have marked the life of the motor car in 2014. The car industry is slowly getting back on its feet. Among the newcomers electric vehicles made little impact while the internal combustion engine continues to progress. In the area of concept cars manufacturers now prefer realistic projects, which herald future production models. In motor sport Formula 1 underwent a sea change with the introduction of new technical regulations including the arrival of a V6 turbo engine and fuel restrictions. The ecological revolution is under way. This could only change the balance of power among the teams and Mercedes AMG won the 2014 Constructors’ Cup. There was also a big

change in endurance with the creation of the Blancpain GT Series, and another victory for Audi in the Le Mans 24 Hours. In the world of rallying Sébastien Ogier’s domination in his Volkswagen was reminiscent of that of his former team leader at Citroën. In 2014, the motor car featured in several exhibitions: the Futurists at the Guggenheim and Dream Cars in Atlanta, which only goes to prove that the car stimulates interrogations in the arts. Once again the world of the collector car created a shock when a Ferrari 250 GTO went under the hammer for the princely sum of almost 29 million euros! Overall it was a rich year in terms of excitement.

ISBN : 979-10-283-0025-8

9 791028 300258

Automobile Year

Front cover photo courtesy of: Daimler AG Outside back cover photos courtesy of: Ferrari Spa 2014 Richard Prince and General Motors Ferdi Kräling Motorsport-Bild GmbH photoclassicracing.com

E-T-A-I Antony Parc 2 10, place du Général de Gaulle 92160 Antony – France Phone: 01 77 92 92 92 Fax: 01 46 99 31 55 www.infopro-digital.com

Contents 5

EDITORIAL Serge Bellu

PRELUDE

INDUSTRY

MOTORSPORT

CULTURE

ECONOMICS

SINGLE-SEATERS

ART

246

20 22 24 26 28 30

The European market Sylvain Reisser The American market Sylvain Reisser The Japanese and Korean markets Jeroen Booij The Chinese market Jeroen Booij The Indian market Gautam Sen The Russian market Denis Orlov The Brazilian market Jeroen Booij

PRODUCTION 34

Production cars: Los Angeles, Tokyo, Detroit, New Delhi, Chicago, Geneva, New York, Peking, Moscow, Paris Serge Bellu

DESIGN 68

Concept cars: Los Angeles, Tokyo, Detroit, New Delhi, Chicago, Geneva, Peking, Cernobbio, Goodwood, Moscow, Paris Philippe Vigneron

96 118 128 148 150

Formula 1: the rules of the game Cédric Voisard The F1 teams Cédric Voisard Formula 1 season review Cédric Voisard Formula 1 World Championship Cédric Voisard Promotional formulas Cédric Voisard IndyCar Series Stéphane Énout

ENDURANCE 156 164 172 180 184 190 192 198 200

Teams and cars Serge Bellu World Endurance Championship Andrew Cotton Le Mans 24 Hours Andrew Cotton European Le Mans Series Andrew Cotton United SportsCar Championship Andrew Cotton Asian Le Mans Series Andrew Cotton Blancpain GT Series Andrew Cotton Super GT Andrew Cotton Results Serge Bellu

RALLYING 204 206 212 220 224

WRC teams and cars Keith Oswin WRC season review Keith Oswin WRC results Keith Oswin European Rally Championship Keith Oswin Rally-Raids Philippe Carles

TOURING CARS 228 230 234 238 240

WTCC teams Stéphane Énout World Touring Car Championship Stéphane Énout Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Thomas Imhof V8 Supercars Championship Stéphane Énout Nascar Sprint Cup Stéphane Énout

252 258 262

The futurists at the Guggenheim Yves Le Ray The motor car in the limelight! Serge Bellu The exhibitions of the year Yves Le Ray Lifestyle Joël Chassaing-Cuvillier

HERITAGE 270 274 282 288 294 300

304

The collectors car market Sylvain Reisser Anniversary Serge Bellu Dream Cars Gérald Guétat Historic races Christian Descombes Chantilly Art & Elegance Serge Bellu A year of rendezvous Serge Bellu Acknowledgements and photo credits

The Indian market

G row t h a t l a s t ! After two years of falling sales 2014 seems to have marked a turning point for the Indian motor car industry with a revival of growth. Gautam Sen analyses this market thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s undergoing a sea change.

Though the Indian economy has been expanding growth had slowed down over 2012 and 2013, and it was the automobile industry that seemed to have taken most of the brunt of that slowdown. Production of all

automobiles (cars and commercial vehicles) in India for 2013 was 3.88 million, some 7% down compared to the previous year, an unprecedented situation as the Indian automobile industry had been on a growth

India is one of Renaultâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s privileged destinations as the Dacia Duster is produced in Chennai.

trajectory for most of the last three decades. The first half of 2014 didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t look too good either, with sales falling for the first four months. It was only in the month of May 2014 that the first signs of a recovery

E CONOMICS

appeared as the sales for that month were up 5% compared to the same month the preceding year. The election of a new government seems to have brought back confidence to the marketplace and, since May, sales every month have been on an upward trajectory: up 13% in June and another 10% in July. During August 2014 car sales grew by more than 15%, the fastest pace for a long, long time, but big discounts and more importantly, new launches of models also helped pump up growth. If the pattern continues till the end of this year – and with the onset of the festival season that should be possible – then the Indian automobile industry will have bounced back into serious contention: it could vault from being the sixth largest automobile manufacturer in the world, to the fifth largest, overtaking South Korea, and be back on track for industry expert predictions that India has the potential to be the world’s third-biggest automobile manufacturing nation by the end of this decade. But it should be pointed out that growth has not been uniform: manufacturers such as market leaders Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai have done well, along with Honda, Ford and Nissan who have gained places on the back of the successes of the Honda Amaze sedan, the Ford Ecosport and the Nissan Terrano (rebadged Duster) crossovers respectively, whereas most of the others have lost ground. Sales for the Indian carmakers such as Mahindra and Tata, as well as multinational giants Toyota, GM, Volkswagen, Skoda and Renault, have all been on a downward spiral. Clearly, what is obvious is that the Indian market is evolving very rapidly and if the automobile manufacturers are not able to react to the changes in tastes and demands and adapt or develop new products to address these changes then they will be left

in the wilderness. Also, it is becoming clear that low-cost cars do not work in India: only two of the top ten sellers in India are ‘lowcost’ vehicles, the Maruti Alto 800 and the Hyundai Eon, the rest are not. The ‘king’ of low-cost, the Tata Nano is a total failure and the Datsun Go too seems to be heading that way, with sales down to just a little over a thousand units in August 2014. Even Toyota’s low-cost car, the Etios Liva hardly does any better, and neither does Honda’s Brio. With almost three-quarters of India’s car market made up of hatchbacks till a few years ago, industry experts believed that the consumers were looking for small, inexpensive two-box cars. But the fact of the matter has been otherwise: what the car buyer really wants are inexpensive sedans, crossovers and minivans, and the bigger, the better. Thus, every manufacturer who has launched one of these kinds of vehicles has benefitted from the change in market dynamics. Maruti Suzuki’s Swift Dzire, an India-specific sedan development of the Swift hatchback has been a runaway success, as have been the Honda Amaze, another sedan derivative, from the slower-selling Brio hatchback and the Hyundai Xcent, derived from the Grand i10. Ford’s fortunes have changed with the amazing success of the Ecosport crossover, which not only addresses the increasing demand for SUVs and off-road vehicles, but also meets India’s differential tax structure, whereby cars shorter than four meters and with engines less than 1.5-litres for diesels (and 1.2-litres for petrols) pay 8% less taxes than cars that are bigger. Nissan too has capitalized on the SUV/crossover craze by launching the Terrano, which is essentially a makeover of the Renault (Dacia) Duster. Unfortunately, the success of the Terrano has been at the cost of the Duster, causing Renault to lose considerably ground.

With a shift in market dynamics and a move to small sedans and small SUVs, the type of vehicles sourced out of India is expected to change too. More than 90 percent of India’s export of over half a million cars during last year were essentially small hatchbacks, cars like the Suzuki Alto and Celerio, the Nissan Micra and Pixo and the Hyundai i10 and i20, but that is expected to change, as more and more multinationals begin to use India as a global automotive manufacturing hub for not just cars destined for Europe, but for other markets too. For instance, Ford has been using their Indian facilities to manufacture and export the Ecosport crossover to Europe and elsewhere. Similarly, Renault has been exporting a right-hand-drive version of the Duster to all right-hand-drive markets globally, and Volkswagen has been exporting the Vento sedan to markets as far away as Mexico. The belief is that by 2020, India will become one of the world’s most important global hubs for the manufacturing of automobiles and will replace Thailand as a leading player in Southeast Asia. Apparently, the shorter transit time to Europe from India has been seen as an important consideration: the transit time for ocean freight to Europe is 22 days from Mumbai, versus 28 days from Bangkok and 26 days from Jakarta. With India topping the world for road fatalities, the Indian government is also seriously considering the introduction of safety regulations on a par with Europe. The government has begun consultations with the auto industry to make it mandatory to have safety features such as air bags and anti-lock braking system (ABS) in all variants of cars made, and not just in the top-end variants. The cars will also need to undergo frontal crash tests at 56kmph as well as tests for the rear and side impacts.

SALES OF PRIVATE CARS IN INDIA FROM JANUARY TO AUGUST 2014 1. Maruti Alto 800 2. Maruti Swift Dzire 3. Maruti Swift 4. Maruti Wagon R 5. Hyundai Grand i10 6. Mahindra Bolero 7. Hyundai Eon 8. Honda Amaze 9. Maruti Omni 10. Marut Celerio

176,698 143,536 138,291 103,435 71,458 68,366 54,248 49,687 48,229 45,734

Los Angeles

Los Angeles Auto Show, 21 - 30 november 2013 The Californian Motor Show has become a major international rendezvous and the scene of firsts from all over the world! s PORSCHE MACAN When one remembers that the introduction of the Cayenne was crucial in saving the make, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to understand why the current Porsche management was tempted to tackle another segment of the SUV market. The Macan is more compact than the Cayenne, and although it is based on the Audi Q5 its lines respect the Porsche styling cues. Engines: 3-litre 340 bhp V6 or 3.6-litre 400 bhp petrol, 3-litre 258 bhp V6 diesel. Dimensions: 468 x 192 x 162 cm: wheelbase: 281 cm.

w LINCOLN MKC Few changes from the concept car seen at Detroit in January 2013 to the production version. This crossover compact is based on the Ford Escape mechanical components. The style is the work of the new Lincoln design chief, David Woodhouse. Engine: 2-litre 4-cylinder 240 bhp petrol. Dimensions: 455.2 x 186.4 x 165.6: wheelbase: 269 cm.

w BMW SERIES 4 CABRIOLET The Series 4 Cabriolet, which takes over from the Series 3 Cabriolet, is a drop top with a folding roof. Enginewise the cabriolet follows the Series 4 coupe unveiled in Detroit in January 2013. Engines: petrol 2-litre 184 bhp 4 cylinder (420i) or 245 bhp (428i) and 3,0 litre 306 bhp 6 cylinder (435i); 2-litre 143 bhp 4 cylinder (418d), 184 bhp (420d) or 218 bhp (425d) and 3-litres 258 bhp 6 cylinder (430d) or 313 bhp (435d) diesel. Dimensions: 464 x 182.5 x 137,5 cm: wheelbase: 281 cm.

v TOYOTA HIGHLANDER/HARRIER This model, one of the biggest SUVs in Toyota range, is destined in priority for American market where it’s sold under Highlander name. In Japan it’s called Harrier.

the the the the

Engines: petrol 2-litre 151 bhp or 2.7-litre 190 bhp 4 cylinder and 3.5-litres 274 bhp V6; hybrid 2.5-litre 196 bhp 4 cylinder and 3,4 litre 280 bhp V6 petrol. Dimensions: 478.5 x 191 x 173 cm: wheelbase: 279 cm.

w MINI No sense in changing a winning formula! The third generation Mini from BMW is completely new even if this isn’t visible apart from a few details. However, the lightened platform is an innovation and has led to an increase in size. The engine choice now includes a 3-cylinder version. Engines: petrol 1,2 litre 102 bhp 3 cylinders or 1.5 litre 136 bhp, 2-litre 192 bhp 4 cylinders: diesel 1.5-litre 95 bhp or 116 bhp 3 cylinder. Dimensions: 382 x 172.5 x 141,5 cm: wheelbase: 249,5 cm.

v JAGUAR F-TYPE COUPE Unlike what happened for the E-Type in 1961, Jaguar spread the launch of its new F-Type sports car. The coupe arrived 14 months after the roadster, and it follows the design of the C-X16 concept car unveiled in September 2011. Engines: petrol 3-litre 340 bhp V6 or 380 bhp and 5-litre 495 bhp or 550 bhp V8. Dimensions: 447 x 192.5 x 131 cm: wheelbase: 262 cm.

w LAMBORGHINI ASTERION LPI 910-4 s MERCEDES-AMG GT This change has been expected for years! For far too long the style of Mercedes-Benz has swung between too much heaviness and evocations of the past. The products of the 3-pointed star sold more on the prestige and the reputation of the make rather than on the purity of their design, except for a clientele looking for extraversion at any price. With the AMG-GT Mercedes-Benz has undergone a sea change. It has much softer, curved lines and there is no longer any reference to the SLs of the past. It is more compact and more accessible. The AMG-GT is going to take on the Porsche 911 Carrera. It has a transaxle layout with a weight distribution of 47/53 between the front and the rear. The body is in aluminium. The most powerful model the GT S reaches the 100 km/h mark in 3.8 seconds and has a top speed of 310 km/h. The V8, derived from the A45 AMG 4-cylinder motor, has the same dimensions. The turbochargers are housed inside the V and the car has dry sump lubrication. Engines: 4-litre 462 bhp and 510 bhp V8 petrol. Dimensions: 456.7 x 193.8 x 127.8 cm: wheelbase: 262,9 cm.

This berlinetta represents a radical change of style for Lamborghini with its fuller more curvaceous, uncluttered forms, which have dropped the sharp-edged lines of previous models. However, underneath the flowing bonnet is the makeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s familiar V10 to which a hybrid power plant has been added. The driver can choose between front wheel and four-wheel drive. The Asterion was unveiled as a concept car, but it prefigures a production model. Engine: 5.2-litre 610 bhp V10 petrol + electric motors 300 bhp (total: 910 bhp).

P RODUCTION

s FERRARI 458 SPECIALE A It’s a Ferrari tradition to bring out a high-performance version of the V8 range. In the past there was the 360 Challenge (2000), the 360 Challenge Stradale (2003), the F430 Challenge (2006) and the F430 Scuderia (2007). The Prancing Horse has transformed the 458 Italia to create the 458 Speciale. After a 90-kg slimming cure it now weighs 1290 kg and the V8 puts out 605 bhp. The 458 Speciale also has the SSC system (Side Slip Control). After the berlinetta that came out in November 2013, the Speciale is now available in spyder ‘A’ (open).

D e t ro i t

North American International Auto Show, 18 - 26 January 2014 Another opportunity to compensate for the Japanese designers who hadn’t unveiled everything in Tokyo. There were a few show-stoppers from the Europeans too. s TOYOTA FT-1 CONCEPT The Calty Design Research, Toyota’s Californian design centre, celebrated its 40th birthday with the FT-1 (Future Toyota One) coupe, which presages a new Supra – perhaps? Its sculpted, muscular forms make a big impression whether the bodywork is red as in Detroit or grey like the model on show at Pebble Beach in August 2014. A virtual variant, the FT-1 Vision GT, has also been designed for the Gran Turismo game.

v KIA GT4 STINGER This superb 2+2 coupe with its racy shape underlines the general health of the Kia design department. With its well-defined wings, plunging rear and its height limited to 1.25 metres, this concept car is as elegant as it is sleek. The black and grey cabin is both sober and sporty. Engine: 2-litre 4-cylinder 315 bhp turbocharged T-GDI, 6-speed transmission. Dimensions: 431 x 189 x 125 cm: wheelbase: 262 cm.

D ESIGN

v ACURA TLX A few weeks before the arrival of the series production TLX at the New York Motor Show, Acura displayed its show car variant recognisable thanks to its 20-inch rims, its sills and its rear-view mirrors. Engine: 2.4 litre with dual clutch transmission and an 8-speed gearbox, or a 3.5-litre V6 with an automatic 9-speed gearbox. Dimensions: length: 483,1 cm: wheelbase: 277,6 cm.

w AUDI ALLROAD SHOOTING BRAKE With this shooting break concept Audi unveiled the main outlines of the 2014 TT. No surprises in the style which respects the more angular evolution of the makeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s design cues. The innovative aspect is its e-tron hybrid system which, while offering an accumulated power output of 408 bhp, ensures an average fuel consumption of 1.9 litres per 100 km. Engine: 4-cylinder 290 bhp TFSI hybrid plus 2 electric motors of 115 bhp and 55 bhp respectively, dual clutch 6-speed transmission. Dimensions: 420 x 185 x 141 cm: wheelbase: 251 cm.

v NISSAN SSC The low, wide Sport Sedan Concept sits on big 21-inch wheels and has a strong personality. This large saloon surprises by the complex design of its front wings and flanks while hinting at Nissanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future styling cues: boomerang headlights, sloping roof and Vshaped grille. Engine: 3.5-litre 300 bhp V6.

w VOLVO CONCEPT XC COUPE It has the rather massive vertical grille as well as the headlights giving a T-shaped beam. On the front wings of this hybrid is the inscription Plug in Hybrid, the only technical information given by Volvo.

w VOLKSWAGEN XL SPORT The XL Sport is a heavily-boosted version of the XL1 unveiled in 2011 and built in a limited run (250 units). It is powered by the XL Sport V twin-cylinder Ducati Superleggera motorbike engine coupled to a 7-speed DSG dual clutch gearbox. It has a steel chassis, plastic carbon fibre reinforced bodywork and magnesium rims giving it a weight of only 890 kg. It has very efficient air penetration with a Cx of only 0,258, and it can reach 270 km/h. A limited production run of 500 units is on the cards. Engine: 1.2-litre 2-cylinder 200 bhp petrol. Dimensions: 421 x 185 x 115 cm: wheelbase: 242 cm.

v TOYOTA C-HR The success of the Nissan Juke hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t gone unnoticed. In turn Toyota has come up with a hybrid compact with rounded muscular lines that are more harmonious than on the Juke. Dimensions: 435 x 185 x 150 cm. Wheelbase: 264 cm.

w PEUGEOT QUARTZ With its long bonnet and its sculpted bodywork with multiple facets that tucks in at door level the Quartz has a strong style that expresses the strength of its 500 bhp hybrid power system. It floats on 23-inch wheels that have a complex design. The cabin combining basalt, black and tawny leather and textiles made from recycled polyester fibre adds to its allure. Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cylinder THP 270 bhp turbo plus 85 kW (110 ch) electric motor, automatic 6-speed gearbox. Dimensions: 450 x 206 cm.

D ESIGN

s INFINITI Q80 INSPIRATION The majestic-looking Q80 has flowing elegant lines penned by Alfonso Albaisa, the Infiniti chief designer. The word simplicity isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t part of his vocabulary as proved by the multiple curves in the flanks and a long glass roof ending in a V. The cabin combining leather, alcantara and metal touches is as sumptuous as itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s classic. Hybrid V6 twin turbo 450 bhp engine plus electric motor. Dimensions: 505 x 202 x 135 cm: wheelbase: 310 cm.

The F1 teams

Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team Non-executive president: Niki Lauda Executive director: Christian ‘Toto’ Wolff Executive technical director: Paddy Lowe Technical director: Bob Bell Engineering director: Aldo Costa Technology director: Geoffrey Willis Engine director: Andy Cowell Chassis: Mercedes F1 W05 Power unit: Mercedes-Benz PU1016A

Six decades after the unbeatable Silver Arrows Mercedes-Benz is back at the top of Formula 1. Stuttgart’s domination began straight away in 2014, and it was never really threatened as it threw away the wins in the few grand prix in

which the Mercedes were beaten. Its success was the confirmation of winter testing during which Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg and their engineers fine-tuned the W05, which was as quick as it was reliable while its rivals had difficulty covering a handful of laps. No other team mastered the 2014 regulations and the interactions between the chassis and the new power unit as well as Mercedes-Benz. The teams that used the engine also had an advantage from the word go. Five years after the purchase of Brawn GP Mercedes-Benz struck gold. Although the first three seasons were a bit of a disappointment, it all began to come together last year with eight pole positions, three victories and second place in the constructors’ cup. In

fact, the W04 was probably the quickest car in the field, but it was too hard on its tyres to worry the Red Bull RB9 over the whole championship. It remained to be seen how the men in Brackley in Northamptonshire would cope with the technical revolution in F1 after the departure of the legendary Ross Brawn. In fact, there were no problems as the technical staff line-up is a very impressive one with some of the top names in the paddock. Helped by a large budget the result lived up to expectations thanks to a couple of exceptional drivers whose cohabitation wasn’t easy to manage as there could only be one world champion: a problem arising from the team’s richness!

In 1954 MercedesBenz ran two versions of the W 196, a conventional model (Herrmann Lang in the Italian Grand Prix) and a streamliner.

ORIGIN OF THE TEAM Formula 1 kicked off on the right foot in 1954 with new regulations and a 2.5-litre maximum cubic capacity. Mercedes made its postwar debut in the third round, the A.C.F Grand Prix on the famous Reims circuit. Fangio abandoned his Maserati for the W 196 and gave the team its maiden victory. Three men were behind the return of the Silver Arrows: the Mercedes technical director, Fritz Nallinger, Rudolf Uhlenault the test programme engineer, and Alfred Neubauer, the legendary team manager. The W 196s used avant-garde technology like direct injection, a combined rear axle/gearbox unit and four-wheel independent suspension. The company came up with two versions depending on the layout of the circuits: normal Rennwagen narrow bodywork and Styromlinen all-enveloping bodywork for high-speed tracks. In 1955 Mercedes dominated thanks to the same weapons that had been improved. The team then withdrew after two triumphant years. It made its comeback as an engine supplier under the Ilmor banner. From 1994 onwards the engine was officially named Mercedes and the German make took over the company. It linked up with McLaren in 1995. In 2010 the works Mercedes AMG Petronas team saw the light of day after the Stuttgart firm absorbed the Brawn GP squad, itself born in 2009 thanks to the takeover of Honda Racing Ltd, formerly Tyrrell Racing and then British American Racing.

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S INGLE - SEATERS

s NICO ROSBERG

s LEWIS HAMILTON

When Lewis Hamilton joined him last year at Mercedes it looked like Nico Rosberg would find himself in an unfavourable position against the flamboyant 2008 world champion. However, the German never really let the British driver take on the role of leader. What he still had to prove was that not only was he one of the best, but that he also had what it took to be a team leader. He has done so this season. In qualifying he was as quick as a driver who most people reckon to be the benchmark over a flying lap, more consistent in the races, and also less unlucky in terms of mechanical issues. In addition, he was capable of toughing it out on the track when necessary, and the son of the 1982 F1 world champion ceded the championship lead to Hamilton only once before the teams set off for the final overseas leg of the season during which the situation slipped out of his grasp.

At the wheel of the best car in the field Lewis Hamilton was determined to improve his score as he has only one world title to his name after seven seasons in F1. However, the British driver didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have things easy. The first obstacle was his very quick, pugnacious teammate whose performance even in qualifying was mind-boggling. He was also unlucky with the mechanical reliability of his W05. Finally, the 2008 world champion continued to show some flaws and a lack of sang-froid that goes with his flamboyant nature resulting in a few wasted qualifying sessions. Only after the Spanish Grand Prix was he briefly in the lead in the title battle as Hamilton has spent most the season chasing his team-mate. Lewis, though, never gives up. And he reaped the rewards in the final third of the championship thanks to his stunning speed and consistency.

Mercedes W05.

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Left-hand page. Daniil Kvyat in his Toro Rosso in an appropriate Austrian setting. Opposite. Jean-Eric Vergne in his Toro Rosso STR9 tackles the tight streets of Monaco.

but a pale shadow of its former self. During the winter break there were numerous problems, mainly due to a precarious financial situation. Kimi Raïkkönen, Eric Boullier, James Allison and a number of engineers jumped ship and the E22 aerodynamic design flopped. The situation wasn’t helped by the V6 Renault. Romain Grosjean was wasting his time as he fought with Sauber, Marussia and Caterham in Q1 and with the same teams in the races to score points. These four teams have serious cash flow problems and must be close to bankruptcy. Six is probably a truer number if one includes Force India and Toro Rosso. There are two main reasons for this situation: for the period 2013 to 2020 the commercial agreements give them only 37% of the share of the income from F1 for the teams, while Red Bull Racing, Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes and Williams share the remaining 63% of the cake! An example: last year Lotus with 13 top-3 finishes, a victory and fourth place in the constructors’ championship and 315 A Sauber C33 cuts through the Singapore night.

points received only 60% of McLaren’s income although the latter finished fifth with 122 points and no top-3 finishes. In addition, only the five premium teams are members of the strategic group which is supposed to plot the future of F1. With the Toro Rosso vote which follows that of Red Bull plus Bernie Ecclestone’s, the commercial rights representative, they form the majority

on the FIA F1 Commission compared to the FIA and the five also-rans thus blocking any reform of the governance and dragging out negotiations when it comes to discussing cost reductions. Formula 1 hasn’t been spared by the crisis and it lost 50 million TV viewers worldwide last year (this trend will be confirmed in 2014). Marussia and Caterham have thrown in the towel and will not race in

Right-hand page top. Porsche made its Le Mans comeback to the blue riband category with the very impressive 919 Hybrids. Right-hand page bottom. Toyota had the fastest car on the track but its Le Mans jinx struck again!

Although there were three Audis at the start compared to two cars for each of its rivals the German make wasn’t the pre-race favourite.

174

the race. Each of the manufacturers had floors that were built to absorb impact over a kerb which, technically, were illegal. However, as each manufacturer had such a floor, the FIA permitted them to be raced. One engineer estimated that this was up to three seconds per lap faster at Le Mans. Toyota’s rear wing was noticed to rotate rearwards at speed, reducing drag and therefore increasing top speed, while the active braking system was thought to do more than could be achieved with a mechanical system. The TS040 raced with both untouched. The privateer Rebellion team brought its new Toyota-powered ORECA-designed R-One to only its second race. The car was under-developed to compete against the manufacturers, and after running nine seconds off front-running pace at the test day, was permitted to race with fewer fuel restrictions and at 810kg, 40kg lighter than at the test.

During first practice on Wednesday, Frenchman Loic Duval flipped his Audi in an accident reminiscent of Marc Gene’s Peugeot crash in 2008. The test day times indicated that pole position would be faster than 3m20s – the last time cars did that, there was a spate of accidents and post race the FIA and ACO met with manufacturers to start their investigations once again. Toyota driver Kazuki Nakajima set pole position, but it was not the superlative time expected. A heavy accident for one of the GTE Aston Martins, following Duval’s accident and numerous others, encouraged the race director to call time early on Wednesday, and on Thursday tested a series of ‘slow zones’, areas of 60km/h maximum speed past the scene of an accident, half an hour before the end of qualifying. Numerically Audi had the advantage at the start with three cars, compared to two for

E NDURANCE

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United SportsCar Championship

T h e a d va n t a g e s o f t h e m e rg e r The founders of the Tudor United SportsCar Series have every reason to feel satisfied as the first season, which marked the end of the conflict between the organisers of the American Le Mans Series and those involved in Grand Am, comes to a close. Andrew Cotton looks back over this evolution, which can but boost endurance racing in the United States.

184

E NDURANCE

The Action Express Racing Corvette DP won the first round of the season, the Daytona 24 Hours.

Chevrolet entered its new Corvette C7-R for both the new USC Championship and the World Endurance Championship.

185

World Rally Championship

Te a m s a n d c a r s For Volkswagen it was business as usual, but for the other manufacturers there was a game of musical chairs as drivers changed teams. As Keith Oswin explains the arrival of a pretty aggressive newcomer, Hyundai, added some spice to the mix.

Volkswagen In 2013 Volkswagen began the season as something of an unknown – the series newcomer and with a car that everyone thought looked promising but had to wait until the action started to be sure. One year on and

The Citroën DS3 WRC, now in its fourth year, won the world championship title in 2011 and 2012.

the squad went to Monte Carlo as reigning champions in both the Manufacturers and Drivers series and very much the team to beat. Reigning champion, Frenchman Sebastien Ogier and Finnish team mate JariMatti Latvala led the driver line-up again with Norway’s Andreas Mikkelsen once more entered as the sole driver in the Volkswagen Motorsport II team. The element of surprise may have gone but the victories just kept on coming for the team from Wolfsburg.

Second season and second world championship title for the Volkswagen Polo R.

Citroen After a dismal season in 2013 with not a single victory for the team that had once dominated the sport – unbeaten in the title race for the previous three years – Citroen had a lot to do in 2014. The factory team (Citroen Total Abu Dhabi) lost Mikko

The Ford Fiesta RS WRC was in its fourth season.

Hirvonen to Ford and so was led by Britain’s Kris Meeke who had a shot at redemption after being quick but unreliable last year. Norway’s Mads Ostberg joined the team while Abu Dhabi driver Khalid Al Qassimi completed the three-man line up. Meeke and Ostberg showed the DS3 still has the pace to challenge for victory but it seems that Sebastien Loeb remains the missing ingredient to success for the French squad.

Ford Ford continued to operate as a privatelyfunded manufacturer, again with three teams contesting events in 2014 but now without Qatar funding following the depar-

ture of Nasser Al Attiyah from the series. Malcolm Wilson’s M-Sport again ran the primary operation and for its lead team (M-Sport World Rally Team) the line-up was led by the returning Finn, Mikko Hirvonen and the promising young Welshman, Elfyn Evans, who was embarking on his first full season at this level. The second team (RK MSport World Rally Team) was run solely for Poland’s former F1 star Robert Kubica while the third team (Jipocar Czech National Team) was again directed by Querin Muler for Czech driver Martin Prokop.

Hyundai Frankfurt-based Hyundai Motorsport arrived

on the scene in 2014 with former Peugeot engineer Michel Nandan at the helm. From the outset it was clear that the i20 WRC had speed but it took a few events to overcome some reliability issues before stage wins and podiums came along encouragingly. Far from a tentative step into the fray the team sent two squads into battle, the main team being Hyundai Shell World Rally Team featuring former Ford drivers Thierry Neuville (Belgium) and Juho Hanninen (Finland) and Spanish exCitroen star Dani Sordo along with Australia’s Chris Atkinson. A second entry was made as Hyundai Motorsport N for New Zealand driver, and former FIA Production Car World Champion, Hayden Paddon.

2014 was the Hyundai i20 WRC’s maiden year in the world championship.

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Rally Germany, 21-24 August Thierry Neuville rolled his car in shakedown then redeemed himself by giving Hyundai its first ever WRC win with Dani Sordo making it a 1-2 for the 2014 series newcomers. Sebastien Ogier crashed out of the lead, as then did Jari-Matti Latvala and Kris Meeke, the latter pair in consecutive stages on the final morning to leave Neuville to cruise to his maiden victory. Third for Mikkelsen ensures that only a VW driver can now win the title. - First WRC wins for Neuville and Hyundai. - Sordo makes it 1-2 for the i20 WRC. - Ogier and Latvala both crash out of the lead. - Meeke inherits lead on final morning but then crashes out. - VW’s 12-event winning sequence ends. - First win for a Belgian driver since Duval in Australia 2005. - Mikkelsen’s third means VW could secure title next time. - Evans equals career best in fourth place. - WRC2 victory goes to Tidemand over Tanak on final stage. - Michelin extends WRC partnership to end of 2016.

RÉSULTATS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Team T Neuville/N Gilsoul D Sordo/M Marti A Mikkelsen/O Fløene E Evans/D Barritt M Hirvonen/J Lehtinen M Ostberg/J Andersson M Prokop/J Tomanek D Kuipers/R Buysmans P Tidemand/E Axelsson O Tanak/R Molder

Car Hyundai i20 WRC Hyundai i20 WRC VW Polo R Ford Fiesta RS WRC Ford Fiesta RS WRC Citroën DS3 Ford Fiesta RS WRC Ford Fiesta RS WRC Ford Fiesta RS Ford Fiesta RS

Time 3:07:20.2 3:08:00.9 3:08:18.2 3:08:23.8 3:08:23.8 3:08:42.9 3:12:13.0 3:16:38.3 3:18:55.6 3:18:57.4

Rally Australia, 11-14 September Volkswagen’s domination of the past two years of the WRC made it the more remarkable that it took 23 events before the Wolfsburg team claimed its firt podium lock-out. However a 1-2-3 in Australia took second best to the celebrations of a second successive Manufacturers’ title. All that remained was to see which driver lifts the crown but few would bet against rally winner Sebastien Ogier answering that on his home event next time out. - Ogier heads VW’s first ever 1-2-3. - Dominant performance secures 2014 Manufacturers’ crown. - Tyre choice costs second placed Latvala the chance to win. - Mikkelsen third as he bids to secure top three in Drivers’ series. - Meeke leads but podium chance wrecked by corner-cutting time penalty. - Kiwi ace Paddon tops Hyundai’s challenge in sixth. - Atkinson 10th with disappointing series return. - Al-Attiyah’s WRC2 win sets him on course for 2014 title. - Australia seeks confirmation of being final event from 2016. - World Council rejects series promoter’s format plans for 2015.

RÉSULTATS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Team S Ogier/J Ingrassia J-M Latvala/M Anttila A Mikkelsen/O Floene K Meeke/P Nagle M Hirvonen/J Lehtinen H Paddon/J Kennard T Neuville/N Gilsoul E Evans/D Barritt R Kubica/M Szczepaniak C Atkinson/S Prévot

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Car VW Polo R VW Polo R VW Polo R Citroën DS3 Ford Fiesta RS Hyundai i20 WRC Hyundai i20 WRC Ford Fiesta RS Ford Fiesta RS Hyundai i20 WRC

Time 2:53:18.0 2:53:24.8 2:54:36.0 2:55:02.0 2:55:11.6 2:56:14.2 2:57:46.2 2:58:28.0 2:58:28.0 3:02:47.4

R ALLYING

Rally France, 3-5 October An electrical fault and a time penalty conspired again Sebastien Ogier’s plan to secure his second World title on home soil. The Frenchman had to console himself with a power stage win while VW team mate Jari-Matti Latvala claimed his first ever asphalt victory to keep his own title hopes very much alive. - Latvala secures his first win on asphalt. - Mikkelsen takes second to prove VW’s domination. - Meeke’s excellent 2014 season continues with third. - Ogier out of victory race after electrical problem and a timing error. - Sordo fourth for Hyundai. - Hirvonen’s lack of form sees him home fifth. - Evans uses physical strength to push his car home to sixth. - Oil leak sees Ostberg slip to seventh in closing stages. - Quentin Gilbert joins the list of WRC2 winners. - Stephane Lefebvre wins 2014 Junior WRC title.

RÉSULTATS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Team J-M Latvala/M Anttila A Mikkelsen/O Floene K Meeke/P Nagle D Sordo/M Marti M Hirvonen/J Lehtinen E Evans/D Barritt M Ostberg/J Andersson T Neuville/N Gilsoul B Bouffier/X Panseri M Prokop/J Tomanek

Car VW Polo R VW Polo R Citroën DS3 Hyundai i20 WRC Ford Fiesta RS Ford Fiesta RS Citroën DS3 Hyundai i20 WRC Hyundai i20 WRC Ford Fiesta RS

Time 2:38:19.1 2:39:03.9 2:39:24.4 2:40:07.8 2:40:19.8 2:41:19.9 2:41:21.6 2:42:27.5 2:42:32.0 2:44:26.6

Rally Spain, 23-26 October Victory in Spain secured a second consecutive World Championship for Sebastien Ogier. Team mate Jari-Matti Latvala was the only driver capable of denying Ogier the title but a slow start meant that his late charge was never going to be enough. - Ogier wins to retain WRC drivers’ title. - 11th win for VW equals season-winning record held by Citroen. - Latvala second but slow pace on gravel spoils his challenge. - Hirvonen takes third to record his second podium finish of 2014. - Ostberg fourth for Citroen after timing error costs Sordo the place. - Mikkelsen demoted from sixth to seventh after time penalty. - Double puncture ends Meeke’s hopes on SS3. - Montjuic street stage opens this mixed-surface rally. - 50kms Escaladei stage measured to mark event’s 50th anniversay. - Ogier, Latvala and Mikkelsen to stay with VW in 2015.

RÉSULTATS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Team S Ogier/J Ingrassia J-M Latvala/M Anttila M Hirvonen/J Lehtinen M Ostberg/J Andersson D Sordo/M Marti T Neuville/N Gilsoul A Mikkelsen/O Floene M Prokop/J Tomanek H Paddon/J Kennard N Al Attiyah/G Bernachini

Car VW Polo R VW Polo R Ford Fiesta RS Citroën DS3 Hyundai i20 WRC Hyundai i20 WRC VW Polo R Ford Fiesta RS Hyundai i20 WRC Ford Fiesta RRC

Time 3:46:44.6 3:46:55.9 3:48:26.8 3:48:57.9 3:49:06.8 3:50:45.6 3:50:47.5 3:54:51.4 3:55:57.0 3:59:24.4

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Lifestyle

Wa t c h e s a n d m o t o r s p o r t A long-standing complicity The watch-making industry has allied itself with motor sport for many years as both have the same demands when it comes to precision, performance and excellence. Their presence at historic events as well as in today’s world championships has increased. Joël Chassaing-Cuvillier gives an overview of the situation.

Chopard has been associated with the organisation of the Historic Mille Miglia for many years. Here at the start of the 2014 event is one of the three Jaguar XK 120s from David Murray’s Ecurie Ecosse.

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The attraction exerted on the world of the motor car by the watch-making industry isn’t new. In fact, it’s completely logical as watches are necessary to measure performance. What is new is that the rules of

marketing are now applied to what is a natural partnership. We’re light years away from the friendly agreement that governed the timekeeping arrangements between Ferrari and Heuer.

Breitling Watches, whose name appears discreetly on the sills of the Continental GT3, are one of Bentley’s sponsors on the English make’s debut in the Blancpain Endurance Series.

There was also Longines, which was Ferrari’s privileged partner, and the official F1 time keeper up till 1988 when Tag Heuer took over.

At almost the same time (1985) Tag Heuer became a partner of the McLaren team. Beyond the sporting aspect Formula 1 has become a worldwide spectacle whose TV

broadcasts attract around five hundred million viewers. This platform hasn’t gone unnoticed among the watch-making companies always on the lookout for more visibility for their products. The circle of the usual players very quickly widened to accommodate newcomers. A fairly recent brand like Hublot signed a global agreement with Ferrari and Luca Di Montezemolo, and the Big Bang Ferrari Carbon Red Magic became the symbol of this parernship. It also provided an excellent opportunity to highlight the new in-house caliber Unioc as well as the use of carbon fibre in the making of the case. In fact, numerous makes use carbon. Whether it is pressed, moulded or machined it provides a certain guarantee of a closer connection between the watch brands and the technology used in motor racing.

The name Chopard appears on the rear-view mirrors of the Porsche 919 Hybrids entered in the 2014 WEC.

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The collectors car market

R e c o rd s a n d d i s a p p o i n t m e n t s This year Ferrari topped a market in which all the records were shattered. This euphoria hides some disappointing performances and mixed results analysed by Sylvain Reisser, who also explains the arrival of a new category of buyer.

2014 will go down in the annals as a vintage year for the collector car market. A certain euphoria seized the main financial centres. Investors from all over the world have never had so much cash at their disposal; the mergers-acquisitions have multiplied and the collector car market did not show any signs of slackening off. During the year it was gripped by a kind of frenzy as prices for certain models set record after record. The sales in California in August at Pebble Beach, where the auctions generated almost 400 million dollars, made a big contribution to the sales recorded during 2014. Against all expectations the highest price didn’t go to RM Auctions or Gooding & Company, but to Bonhams. The Londonbased auction house took everybody by surprise by announcing a month and a half before its sale in Quail’s Lodge that it was going to dispose of some of the jewels of Italian Fabrizio Violati’s Maranello Rosso Collection. In a selection of 10 Ferraris there was a 250 GT0. And the result lived up to expectations. The Ferrari went under the hammer for 38 115 000 dollars (28 586 250 euros) shattering the previous year’s record set by the W196 F1 Mercedes-Benz. The 250 GTO became the highest-priced car in the world to be sold at an auction. However, at the end of the sale auctioneer Robert Brooks’s face wore a glum expression. This exceptional opportunity to buy one of the 36 250 GTOs built between 1962 and 1964 should have resulted in a higher price according to the experts. A few months earlier a GTO had changed hands for the mindboggling sum of 51 million dollars! Some specialists reckoned that the sale wasn’t advertised the way it should have been, which underlines the importance of communications in the success of an auction. Other stated that the car on sale in California didn’t have the best pedigree of the series. Might superstition have played a role as Henri Oreiller, the downhill skiing champion, was

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The GTO no 3851/GT produced in September 1962 finished second in the Tour de France a few days later. It was rebuilt in 1963 after a serious accident but raced only in minor events.

killed in this car in the Coupes de l’Automne on the Montlhéry circuit. It was one of the main explanations advanced and it shows the importance of a car’s pedigree. In every sale it is becoming increasingly clear that it is a bonus for cars to have a particular story or an exceptional set of results attached to them. This is why the Ferrari 275 GTB/4 belonging to Steve McQueen achieved the amazing figure of 10 175 00 dollars, three times the usual price for this model. This year, more than ever, Ferrari was the uncontested king of the collector car market. Any auction house with a Ferrari, preferably a racing car or one belonging to the 250 or 275 range on its catalogue, was assured of making a good profit. In the shadow of these halo models a certain number of cars considered up to now as playing secondary roles also saw their prices rising. On the other hand, what was surprising was that the fascinating one-off 365 P Berlinetta Speciale

with its central driving position did not generate a bidding war at the Gooding & Co auction: it remained in the Chinetti family garage where it’s been since 1969! The Best of Show prize awarded to a postwar car, the 1954 Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta, at the Pebble Beach Concours, heralded a change of era. The market is moving away from pre-war cars. And it’s not just a generational thing. “Unlike older models, the vehicles from the 1950s and 60s do not require an in-depth knowledge of cars. At the same time the market trend is for cars that are more sporty and easier to drive and to maintain,” explained French auctioneer, Hervé Poulain. In these conditions it’s not surprising to see the Aston Martins from the David Brown era, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLs, certain Porsches (the 356s and pre-1974 911s) as well as the Lamborghini Miuras and Countachs attracting an increasingly international clientele. The Chinese, though, are still

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hamstrung by the fact that they can’t import these cars. If this barrier were to fall then prices would probably take off. For the moment Matthieu Lamoure, the director of the Motor Cars department at Artcurial, reckons that the market still has considerable room for expansion: “Cars of over one million euros are sought after which encourages a rise in their prices.”

There were, though, a few hiccups in the rise in the collector car market. Thus, the Bonhams auction during the Goodwood Festival of Speed and the Mecum sale during the Pebble Beach week achieved mitigated results. Despite the abundance of cash available buyers are being choosy. The three keys to a successful sale are: beauty, rarity, pedigree.

The craze for collector cars encouraged by the explosion of prices confirms the fears that certain enthusiast have had for a long time: namely, the spectre of a speculative bubble. The best way to prevent this is to promote the idea of pleasure. From this point of view the explosion in events and historic car meetings is the best outlet for this passion.

TOP 20 SALES OF THE YEAR 20 stars up for auction We have selected 20 collector cars that changed hands during 2014. It isn’t an exhaustive list by any means and it picks out the blue chip cars as well as the surprises. Prices are given for information only (a dollar equals 0.75 euros).

1. Ferrari 250 GTO (n° 3851 GT), 1962 28 586 250 euros (38 115 000 dollars) Bonhams, Quail Lodge Carmel, 14th August 2014 The jewel of the Maranello Rosso Collection of the late Fabrizio Violati, which he had owned since 1965, was the 16th GTO built, n° 3851 GT bought new by Jo Schlesser and Henri Oreiller. The two drivers finished second in the grey car in the 1962 Tour de France. A few weeks later Oreiller was killed in it in the Coupes du Salon at Montlhéry. 2. Ferrari 275 GTB/C Competizione (n° 6701), 1964 26 400 000 dollars RM Auctions, Monterey, 16th August 2013 It was part of a series of three cars specially developed to defend Ferarri’s colours in GT racing in the 1965 season although it never raced at the time. It belonged to Michel Poberejsky (better known as Mike Sparken) for 25 years, and was owned since the 1990s by Brandon Wang. 3. Ferrari 375 Plus Spider Competizione (n° 0384 AM), 1954 13 534 075 euros (10 753 500 livres) Bonhams, Festival of Speed Goodwood, 26th June 2014 This spyder, a key car in the history of the Prancing Horse powered by a 4.9-litre engine with bodywork by Pinin Farina, was one of the five Ferraris entered by the factory during the 1954 season. José Froilán González won a curtain-raiser in it before the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

4. Ferrari 250 GT Spider California (n° 2903 GT), 1961 11 500 000 euros (15 180 000 dollars) Gooding & Company, Pebble Beach, 17th August 2014 The California Spider has become one of the most sought-after collector drop tops in the past few years. This car, which went on sale for the first time in 14 years, is one of the few to have its original hard top.

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A year of rendezvous

A n e n t h u s i a s t ’s ye a r In addition to Le Mans Classic, the Chantilly concours, the exhibition in the Atlanta museum of modern art and the one in the chandelier factory in Gargas (to which an article was devoted in the earlier pages), enthusiasts had numerous events to choose from in 2014. Here is Serge Bellu’s selection.

A LIGHT ON SOME PASSIONATE CAR CREATORS - GARGAS: 13 DECEMBER 2013 – 19 JANUARY 2014

rare cars from the garages of the Maharajahs pictured here with the help of our collaborator Gautam Sen.

AMELIA ISLAND CONCOURS 7-10 MARCH 2014

The third exhibition held in Régis Mathieu’s chandelier factory in the Vaucluse highlighted a number of maverick French designers. Read the full story in pages 252257.

CAVALLINO CLASSIC: PALM BEACH 23-26 JANUARY 2014 The 23rd concours d’élégance devoted to Ferrari was held at the Breakers Resort hotel. It kicked off the season by celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Ferrari 275 GTB. Two Best of Shows were nominated: in the racing category Scott Glen’s Ferrari 166 Spyder Corsa no. 016/I came out on top and in the grand touring class the award went to a 400 Superamerica.

Among the jewels of the Maharajahs was the Rolls Royce Phantom no. 17EX with coachwork by Jarvis made for Shiman Rajrajeshwar Mahararajadhiraj Sri Hari Singh Indar Mahindar Bahadur, the maharadjah of Jammu and Kashmir.

Two prizes were awarded for two types of cars. Bob Brockingham’s impressive Horch 853

The 4 CV transformed by racing driver Louis Rosier on display in the Mathieu chandelier factory in Gargas.

RM AUCTIONS FIRST SALE IN PARIS 4-5 FEBRUARY 2014 The Canadian auction house chose the International Automobile Festival to hold its first sale on French territory. It took place the day after the exhibition of concept cars in the superb Hôtel des Invalides where a selection of historic vehicles was sold. The top price was paid for a Jaguar D-Type (no. XKD520), which went for 3.7-million euros.

RÉTROMOBILE PARIS 5-9 FEBRUARY 2014

In 2014 the lovers of the Prancing Horse celebrated the birth of the 275 GTB.

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This is one of the most delightful exhibitions on the calendar with its bric a brac sales, makes’ clubs, manufacturers, car sellers, model displays and booksellers. It is run by François Melcion, and the 2014 exhibition displayed a magnificent collection of very

The Jaguar D-Type (no. XKD520) was one of the short-nose models aimed at clients.

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There’s always a good opportunity to evoke the cars of the great era of the Silver Arrows which, unfortunately, coincided with the rise of Nazism.

Grand Palais in Paris after which they set out for Marseille via La Rochelle with stopovers in Orléans, Vichy, Albi and Limoges.

from 1937 won the elegance prize while in the sports category it went to Miles C. Collier’s lovely 1958 Scarab Mark II.

TECHNO CLASSICA ESSEN 26-30 MARCH 2014 Techno Classica was held for the 26th time in North Rhineland. The major fair for the historic car was as extravagant as ever because of the number of exhibitors (1250 from 30 nations), and the huge selection of collectors cars (more than 2500). Mercedes-Benz celebrated its 120th anniversary in motor sport with some 30 of its former winners, the oldest being a Simplex dating from the beginning of the 20th century.

TOUR AUTO OPTIC 2OOO PARIS-MARSEILLE: 7-12 APRIL 2014 This year the French Classic attracted more than 240 cars, which covered almost 2200 km alternating special stages, circuit races and liaison sections. The cars were on show in the

MONACO HISTORIC GRAND PRIX MONTE CARLO: 9-11 MAY 2014

The Jaguar C Type (no. XK005) prepared by JD Classic made a big impression in the Principality where it was raced by its owner Tommy Wisdom in 1952.

It was the ninth running of this event held every two years since 1997 two weeks before the F1 Grand Prix with Chopard as the title sponsor. As usual, a beautiful selection of cars from every era raced on the city circuit. Renault deserves a special mention as Alain Prost was on hand to give the 1983 RE40 a run.

DREAM CARS: INNOVATIVE DESIGN, VISIONARY IDEAS, ATLANTA 21 MAY – 7 SEPTEMBER 2014

MILLE MIGLIA BRESCIA: 13-18 MAY 2014 This historic race, revived in 1977, became an annual event in 1986. This year its duration was extended by a day. It started on Thursday on the viale Venezia in Brescia and stopped at Padua, Rome and Bologna before returning to Brescia on Sunday. Mercedes-Benz, victorious in 1931 with an SSK driven by Rudolf Caracciola and Wilhelm Sebastian, and in 1955 with the 300 SLR in the hands of Stirling Moss and Denis Jenkinson, has always been involved in motor racing. This year was a major landmark as the German firm is celebrating its 120th anniversary in motor sport at the topmost level.

The day before the start the cars were lined up in the magnificent décor of the Grand Palais in Paris

The High Museum of Art in Atlanta put on an exhibition devoted to concept cars and other extraordinary vehicles. See the full subject in pages 282-287.

A rare occasion to find dream cars from the 1950s under the same roof. In the foreground is the Cadillac Cyclone.

The bucolic countryside crossed by the Mille Miglia is one of the reasons for its success.

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