drivenz Issue #1

September 2018 | ISSUE #1

STINGER

GT

SSC TUATARA NORWAY’S ATLANTIC ROAD

NEW 2018 NISSAN LEAF

SCOTT DIXON WINS FIFTH INDYCAR SERIES

Owner, Editor & Designer

Jamie Brown

Contributing Writing Jamie Brown, Matt Campbell, drive.com.au, Antuan Goodwin, Peter Louisson, TopGear.com, Nile Bijoux, John Galvin, dangerousroads.org, Jim Ayello, Phil Duncan.

Contributing Photography

Web

Jamie Brown, Tom Gasnier, Mark Horsburgh, Stan Szeto, Robert Cianflone, Mike Owen, CarGuide.com.au, Hyundai Motorsport, Porsche Motorsport, Motorsport Images-LAT.

issuu.com/jimbro57

Instagram instagram.com/brownmotorsportnz Facebook facebook.com/BrownMotorsportNZ Disclaimer Statement: The photographs and written articles in this publication may or may not be taken from other publications, websites, media etc. without permission. The intent of this publication is never to be printed and/or sold, and is solely for the purpose of exhibiting ones design prowess as a portfolio. Credit for photography and/or articles will be given where applicable. Statistics for vehicles may also be more or less accurate, depending on where the information has come from.

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contents

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featured

KIA STINGER GT SPORT

The top of the range of an already brutally sounding sports car.

4 - 9 what’s new FIRST LOOKS...

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TOYOTA COROLLA NEW NISSAN LEAF EV AUDI A5 SPORTBACK MERCEDES C CLASS VW T-ROC SSC TUATARA

14 road trip

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THE ATLANTIC ROAD

A stunning road suurounded by stunning scenery

19 motorsport INDYCAR SERIES DECIDED

Supercars Endurance Cup, F1, NASCAR Playoffs and Kiwis racing around the world

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what’s new

TOYOTA Corolla The all-new Toyota Corolla 2018 hatchback is here, and it has you in its sights...

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ot literally. And not the car.

Toyota, the brand that has been the number one seller in the country for the past 15 years straight, wants you to buy even more Corollas, because being the bestselling passenger car for the past few years in a row isn’t enough.

The story here, though, is that there’s less of a focus on fleet buyers, and more focus on everyday consumers.

It’s the best looking Corolla, ever.

Hands down. There’s no point trying to argue otherwise, because the exterior design somehow manages to look like a hot-hatch with its body kit comprised of side skirts, a low front spoiler, a rear diffuser and tailgate-mounted rear spoiler. The 18-inch alloys look terrific, and even the lower-grade versions on 16s with a more sedate design look pretty smart.

It looks low and wide, sleek and muscled. It’s a chunky little number,

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and I really think it looks good no matter the grade. What a shame Toyota hasn’t decided to bring the bigger rear spoiler that was fitted to US cars, because it completed the look - particularly for a high-spec car on 18s.

The cabin is really nice, well designed and with quality materials throughout. All models the seats are a big step forward for Toyota - even if you can’t get electric adjustment or memory settings.

Every model in the range comes with an 8.0-inch touchscreen media system, but you only get sat nav built-in on the mid- and high-grade models, and none come with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

The engine size has jumped up from a 1.8-litre to a 2.0-litre - still a fourcylinder, but Toyota calls this engine the ‘Dynamic Force’ petrol engine, which is not tubrocharged, though it may sound like it.

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The kerb weight of the Corolla hatch ranges between 1320kg and 1420kg, depending on the drivetrain and spec of the car. There is no gross vehicle weight figure given by Toyota.

The Corolla is better to drive than the model it replaces. And in this car’s case, it’s a quantum leap forward.

A truly compelling Toyota Corolla?

You bet - that’s exactly what the new-generation model delivers, and not just due to the fact it’s a good looking car - it’s also good value, has a strong focus on safety, and is now theoretically better to own than ever, too.

THE SPECS

TOYOTA COROLLA GX

2.0L - 125kW Front Mounted

Front Wheel Drive

1-100 in 9.3 secs

139 g/km

From $29,990 Model Variants Include Hatch SX Hatch GX Hybrid Hatch Levin ZR Hatch ZR Hybrid

what’s new

NISSAN Leaf Nissan has made its new Leaf bigger, stronger, more powerful and among a larger range...

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he new model is upgraded in every way, with a more powerful electric motor that also produces more torque with a battery pack that offers significantly longer range than the model it replaces. It also features a sleeker look, first previewed by the IDS Concept from the 2015 Tokyo motor show.

Nissan claims the new Leaf can travel up to 400km on a single charge, up from the 170km range in the first generation. That is in large part thanks to a new 40kWh lithium-ion battery, replacing a 24kWh battery in the old model.

Performance has been upgraded too, the electric motor now produces 110kW of power and 320Nm of torque. That’s a significant step up from the old model’s 80kW and 280Nm. Charging times are 16 hours at 3kW, eight hours at 6kW but only 40 minutes to get it to 80 per cent on a fast charge.

Nissan has also introduced several new technologies on the second-gen Leaf, including autonomous driving functionality. Dubbed ProPilot, the system is able to keep the car centred in its lane, maintain speed and bring the car to a stop if the traffic ahead slows.

The accelerator itself has been renamed the ‘e-pedal’ by Nissan, which claims it has redesigned the way the Leaf needs to be driven. As with most electric cars the Leaf if capable of slowing, and even stopping, without the driver having to touch the brake pedal. Instead drivers only have to lift off the e-pedal and the car will slow due to the regenerative braking. However, under heaving braking the brake pedal is still required.

traffic alert and an emergency assistance if you hit the wrong pedal.

Also featured on the Leaf is ProPilot Park, a fully autonomous parking system.

Dimensionally the new Leaf is slightly longer overall than the model it replaces, measuring 4480mm compared to 4445mm.

The new look incorporates Nissan’s V-Motion grille front light signature, which gives the car a familiar look to the rest of the brand’s range. Overall the Leaf is sleeker and sportier the second time around, with a spoiler integrated into the rear hatch and a diffuser-style rear bumper for improved aerodynamics.

THE SPECS NISSAN LEAF S

24kWh EV Front Mounted

Front Wheel Drive

1-100 in 7.9 secs

0 g/km

Est. $45,990 Model Variants Include

ProPilot is part of a wider safety suite that also includes autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, traffic sign recognition, rear cross

Leaf S Leaf SV Leaf SL

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what’s new

AUDI A5 Sportback The Sportback is an excellent addition in the lineup, blending all of the best parts of the series into one attractive package...

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he A5 Sportback is built on the same bones as the A5 Coupe and A4 Sedan; a nicely tuned, sporty platform.

And while this genre-bender (or genre-blender) isn’t without its compromises, after a week behind the wheel, I’m convinced that the 2018 Audi A5 Sportback is much greater than the sum of its parts.

The Sportback’s engine bay is home to a familiar engine: Audi’s 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that powers both the A4 sedan and A5 coupe. Output is rated at 252 horsepower and 273 poundfeet of torque, and low-end grunt is plentiful, making off-the-line launches and midrange acceleration easy as pie.

The engine is mated to a sevenspeed dual-clutch automatic transmission, the only gearbox available to Sportback buyers. Audi’s S-tronic gearbox is really sweet, with smartly chosen shift points aiding

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in quick acceleration and a smooth overall demeanor. It can be a bit hesitant to downshift when slowing for a corner or while passing, so you’ll want to make use of either the Sport shift mode or the standard steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters when it’s time to really have fun.

The track and tuning of the Sportback’s four-corner, five-link independent suspension is closer to that of the A5 Coupe than the A4 Sedan. This grants the five-door a more planted and stable feel in the corners.

Standard on all Sportback models is Audi’s wonderful Sport Quattro allwheel drive. This helps scoot the rear end around while cornering, keeping the chassis neutral and preventing understeer - a common trait of many AWD setups. This also means you can get back on the power nice and early while coming out of a corner.

Such fun!

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On the highway, the A5 Sportback can be blissfully quiet and comfortable, especially in drive modes that shut off all of that artificial engine noise nonsense.

The Virtual Cockpit, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster display that can be customized to display everything from traditional gauges and driving information to a large map for navigation. Pretty much all of the major functions can be handled here with simple steering wheel controls, making Virtual Cockpit a feature worth paying for.

The Audi A5 Sportback isn’t just a better bargain. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a better all-around car.

THE SPECS AUDI A5 SB 2.0L

2.0L - 185kW Front Mounted

All Wheel Drive

1-100 in 6.0 secs

124 g/km

From $98,400 Model Variants Include A5 Sportback A5 Cabriolet S5 Sportback RS 5 Coupé

what’s new

MERCEDES C-Class Estate The C300 is middling on the performance and specification front in this comprehensive estate line-up...

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ith the C300 name you might expect a six potter but it’s actually a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbopetrol, making 180kW of power and 370Nm of torque. That’s enough to shove it to the open road legal limit in six seconds, though we never got a chance to confirm that.

19-inch rims, leather-clad seats with a handy lumbar pump, privacy glass, comfort entry and pushbutton start, powered boot closing and active cruise control with stop and go. Safety enhancements include AEB, active lane keeping, blind spot monitoring, and reverse cross traffic alert. You’re well covered if it all goes south here.

Keep things seemly in Comfort mode and it might just use fuel at a rate near to its claim of 6.7L/100km overall. The one aspect you or insignificant others might not gel with is the limited leg room in the rear seats.

This offers a bit more pep in all circumstances but without locking out the higher gears, of which there are nine in total.

Other goodies in that package include a body kit, sports seats, pedals and steering wheel, bi-colour wheels and more.

If the kids are looking like they’re about to outgrow you, then this may not be the ideal estate. On the other hand, load carrying capacity is decent, at up to 1510L.

Our car also featured a $1290 seat comfort package with heating, memory and further electrical adjustment. Rounding out the options, a $4490 vision package including a panoramic sunroof, adaptive LED headlights, 360-degree camera and head-up display.

We bought a hybrid road bike during our time with the car and once we’d split folded the rear seats, the bike slipped in the load bay. Replacing the cargo blind is a bit of trick, until you remember which way up it goes, and then it’s easy, clicking into place.

Lightweight it isn’t though. A ramble out into the country showed how well the sports suspension works in this, aside from just a hint of slow speed ride indifference, unsurprising given the low profile rubber on the elegant 19-inch rims, and the stiffer springs and dampers that are part of the AMG Line package fitted.

In total, this car ended up around $250 change from six figures. One other rival vehicle to consider is the A4 Avant Sport, which is a little more expensive but it has the benefit of All Wheel Drive.

THE SPECS

MERC C300 ESTATE

2.0L - 190kW Front Mounted

Rear Wheel Drive

1-100 in 6.0 secs

155 g/km

From $91,290 Model Variants Include C 200 C 220 Diesel AMG C 43 (V6) AMG C 63 S (V8)

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what’s new

VOLKSWAGEN T-Roc A stylish crossover for people who don’t need family space. But don’t dig too deep beyond that...

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he Volkswagen T-Roc launches in the same time that the Scirocco dies. Says it all really. Crossovers have replaced coupes as the default style option.

Crossovers come with benefits: more space and doors than coupes, which makes them a tenable family option.

Which is why they’re a ridiculously easy sell. Now imagine adding the image power of a crossover with the image power of a VW. Image squared.

Few cars have an elevator pitch as simple as the T-Roc’s. Four words pretty much do it: ‘Beefy looking tall Golf’.

Some crossovers try to do the job of proper SUVs or MPVs. Not this one.

The T-Roc is pitched as an alternative to an actual car. People who want a true 4x4 will find its off-road and towing capability pretty lame.

Families who’ve had an MPV will be struck by the lack of cabin versatility.

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OK, the extra ground clearance gives a mite more off-road ability than a Golf Alltrack, but basically people will be buying the T-Roc for its looks and higher seats. Higher seats that don’t just improve visibility (a little) but also getting in and out.

A whole clothes-rail of different two-tone exteriors, painted wheels and coloured cabin strips is carefully pitched at the crowd to whom the T-Roc will be as much capsule wardrobe as it is car. Not sure what happens when ‘Energetic Orange’ goes out of season, mind.

Volkswagen has been here before, actually. The 1980s Golf Country was a jacked up Mk2 with Syncro drive and plastic arches. Then came two generations of Cross Golf, which were the ugly Golf Plus with taller ride height and plastic cladding but only FWD. They all flopped.

This time is different. The market is gagging for crossovers (for some

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strange reason). And VW’s level of commitment has grown to match, by changing the panels of the entire exterior and much of the cabin.

On the inside, as we’ll see, VW has scrimped and saved in costs, and hoped to distract buyers by adding splashes of bright colour in customisable trim sets.

Because the taller more upright seat position naturally makes it seem roomier inside, and because there’s already the bigger Tiguan if space is a priority, VW took the opportunity to shave a little out of the Golf’s wheelbase. Overall length is also very slightly shorter. The T-Roc is VW’s version of the Q2.

THE SPECS VW T-ROC 2.0 R

2.0L - 140 kW Front Mounted

All Wheel Drive

1-100 in 6.0 secs

155 g/km

From $51,990 Model Variants Include 2.0 TDI R-Line 2.0 TDI SEL 2.0 TSI R-Line 2.0 TSI SEL

what’s new

SSC Tuatara Whether it resembles the native reptile or not, this hypercar’s name badge is the only New Zealand thing on it...

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o it’s not a Kiwi car, despite the name - it was revealed at Pebble Beach after about seven years of silence from the company. SSC CEO, Jerod Shelby, is not-so-quietly optimistic about the car’s speed potential.

Formerly known as Shelby SuperCars, SSC North America recently took the covers off its upcoming Tuatara hypercar at Pebble Beach last month.

The reveal follows a seven-year wait since the concept first aired, but the production version doesn’t disappoint. Forward momentum comes from a mid-mounted, twinturbo 5.9-litre V8, producing 1006kW when feeding on premium unleaded and as much as 1305kW on E85.

It revs as high as 8800rpm, weighs just 194kg, and is mated to a sevenspeed “computerized manual” gearbox featuring a “robotic shift system.”

The car weighs 1247kg and the aerodynamic body has a drag coefficient of just 0.279. Its low weight is the result of the body, chassis and wheels all being made from carbon fibre. The 20-inch wheel set comes wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tyres measuring 245/35 at the front axle and 345/25 for the rears.

Specific erformance details are not available at this time. That said, the power and figures tell us that it won’t be slow, despite its namesake not being known for being that quick on its feet.

Despite Bugatti and Koenigsegg having a good crack at it, the 300mph (482km/h) barrier is yet to be broken. Hennessey is still finalising its Venom F5 contender, yet SSC thinks its Tuatara is the only car that will actually walk the walk.

half a tank of 91 octane fuel and half of E85, you’ll get around 1,500bhp, it’s tuned to adjust automatically”.

This potent V8 is matched to a computerised seven-speed manual.

“It’s a robotic system, all hydraulic, with three driving modes: comfort, sport and track.”

Clearly the Tuatara has been designed with the challenges of airflow at VMAX at the forefront of the thinking from the outset. “It’s not just about the shape [of the car] itself, it’s about getting air in and out of the car efficiently.”

Pre-orders are currently being taken, with production to be limited to one hundred units. Price is presumably of the “if you have to ask” variety.

THE SPECS SSC TUATARA

5.9L V8 - 1,007 kW Central Mounted

Rear Wheel Drive

1-100 in 2.5 secs

N/A

Est. $2 Million

Jerod Shelby, CEO of SSC North America, tells us that “if you have

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featured

WITH ITS NEW STINGER, KIA IS WELL PLACED TO CONV PICKINGS AFTER THE DEPARTURE OF THE AUSSIE-BREWE 10

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VERT THOSE DISENFRANCHISED FOLK LEFT WITH SLIM ED REAR-DRIVE SPORTS SEDANS. CAN IT FILL THE VOID? drivenz

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featured

KIA Stinger GT Sport

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ow before you get your pitchforks and light your torches, let’s be fair. Kia are not exactly known for exciting, powerfull or crazy cars are they? No they are not, but I will give credit where credit is due.

Over the last 5 years Kia have really stepped up their game and now offer a rather good looking lineup of vehicles. But just so we’re clear, I don’t have a hate on for Kia, I am just saying it like it is. I hope that the stinger is the start of what could become an exciting sporty future.

The interior is rather nice, and well laid out.

Not too much clutter, a clever use of the space available. Take the badge off the steering wheel, and you’re sitting in what could be a European car: nice soft touch materials and sleek brushed aluminum inlays, all coming together in what feels like a luxurious environment.

The seats looked great too, contoured sporty design, finished with a ultra soft nappa leather, only available on the GT Sport. But are they any good? I am a big, tall guy and still found them to be both comfy and supportive. The GT Sport is upgraded with the driver’s seat bolster adjustment, controlled by pressurised air cells. They were really nice and oddly enough the headrest was too. Normally just a large bit of leather covered foam, but these headrests had a soft padded section in the middle which cushioned your head, instead of just resting against it. The heated and cooled seats were pretty good too. The heating took a while to fire up, maybe a minute, but once going it was a very even and strong heat across your bum and back.

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The rear seats were just as comfy, but the space was a little on the tight side in the foot well, if the driver is tall like I am. The rear of the car can be a bit dark, even with the panoramic sunroof cover open. My wife said it was ok when in the back with our baby, but it was noticeablely darker then the front of the cabin. The sunroof was a nice touch too, again standard. You could have it closed with a blackout cover in place, open the cover, tilt open the roof and full slide back the roof. The buttons for this where a bit tricky. The normal trigger switch had 4 settings: two forward and two back. Half press made one action, like opening the blackout cover, and a full press opened the tilting sunroof completely.

Same in reverse, something I am sure owners would get used too.

The centre dash console’s main feature is an 8” touch screen display, with 3 air vents under this, followed by two rows of buttons, that gave you access to the radio, media, track selection, hazard lights, map, nav, setup and a Favourites button. Under this was the second row which had the standard air circulation and climate controls. If we keep going down, we have a wireless charging pad, USB, AUX and 12V socket all hidden under a clean sliding cover.

What I found odd was that lack of any sort of dail or toggle to control the media screen from your left hand. Usually in many cars this is near the gear stick, and over time you get used to the movements, which become engrained, so you don’t even need to look at what you’re doing. Not a biggy, but odd, maybe I just needed more time with it.

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What I did like was the key. I have to hand it to Kia here – well done on making something a bit more interesting than a regular old key fob.

Nice design, with a side featured lock car button which was super easy to feel when it’s in your pocket.

The boot is ok, maybe a bit on the small size at 406 litres, which feels like a lot, but the boot is not that deep inside. When you lift the cover, the space saver spare wheel takes up a lot of space, which I feel could have been more beneficial as depth. We found it hard to fold a buggy down into this boot, and get anything else in there with it.

From behind the wheel of the Stinger you immediately have a sense this its been tuned for performance driving. The steering is really sharp, even with Eco and Comfort modes, there is little or no play in the steering wheel. I was surprised how sharp it was, because it became even more aggressive in Sports mode, leaving the driver with pin point accurate steering. The only downside to this is that there is zero play, even a slight rotation in the wheel will change the path of the car. Great for when you are 100% focused and looking for that hardcore driving experience. But when you’re cruising, I did find that It took me a while to get used to it.

Lots of corrections to make up for the extra degrees I was moving the wheel. Over the course of the review this start to become more natural, so I don’t think it will be an issue for many owners.

featured

The Stinger GT is equipped with a wide range of driver aids. Smart cruise control, blind spot detection, forward collision warning system, rear cross traffic alert, lane keep assist, driver attention warnings, high beam assist and autonomous emergency braking. An impressive line up of standard options I must say.

As you can imagine it can be hard to test some of these features in a safe environment. However I did get to experience the rear cross traffic alert, and I was impressed with how far the vehicle was away when the alert started to ring out. Very handy feature especially as the rear roof/ boot pillars are bulky.

The smart cruise control worked well in most cases, only having some momentary issues with vehicles in lane beside me heading around a curve on the motorway. The system would ease off the power, and then continue on once the system was happy the car was not crossing into the lane ahead. Again I was impressed with the distance it was able to make these decisions.

I did not find the lane keep assist as helpful as the other aids, and this was mostly due to the sharp steering setup. I found that the

lane keep assist was a bit jerky with its movements, and after a bit of time, this just put me off using it altogether.

Another surprise was the rear parking camera and 360 degree top down camera. Both of which worked very well with the parking sensors as a final line of defence. I had to keep looking at what was optioned and what was standard, as it was not adding up. These things don’t come cheap on most cars. But I guess the Kia stinger is not most cars.

The Stinger offers a selection of drive modes: Smart, Eco, Comfort, Sport and Custom. Most of these do exactly what they say they will, and with most cars I find myself driving in Comfort or Sport for the majority of the review.

I must not forget the HUD and yes, it’s standard. Nothing too fancy, it displayed the relevant info, mainly speed in the windscreen. It was so subtle, but I used it all the time.

Kia didn’t opt for a plastic pop up screen, they went all the way, with e LCD image reflected into the windscreen. I guess if your going to do a job, might as well do it right.

The range is simple with 3 models available in New Zealand. The Kia

“WHERE HAS THIS DARK SIDE OF KIA BEEN ALL THESE YEARS?” Stinger EX Turbo is available from $54,990, the GT Line from $59,990 and the GT Sport from $69,990.

All three models are rear wheel drive and come with an 8-speed automatic with shift by wire transmission.

There are 6 colours to choose from, Snow White Pearl, Hi Chroma Red, Aurora Black, Deep Chroma BLue, Silky Silver and Panthera Metal.

The EX Turbo has a 2.0L turbocharged inline 4 Theta II engine. This produces 182kW of power and 353Nm of torque. The GT line has everything that the EX Turbo has with a few extras. The GT line upgrades to an 8” touchscreen, powered tailgate, adaptive LED headlights, 19” alloys, adjustable suspension and heads up display.

This car surprised me again. Where has this dark side of Kia been all these years? And whatever you’re doing, please, can we have more. I was expecting it to be good, but not this good. Nice work Kia.

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THE SPECS

TOYOTA COROLLA GX

3.3L V6 - 272kW Front Mounted

Rear Wheel Drive

1-100 in 4.9 secs

139 g/km

$69,900 Model Variants Include Stinger EX Turbo Stinger GT Line

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road trip

The Atlantic Road takes you from lush coastal landscapes and heaths to bare rocks along the exposed Hustadvika, where you can see the sun sink into the horizon

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road trip

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road trip

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ocated in the midwest part of the Norwegian coastline, the Atlantic Road is one of the most scenic drives in the world. Driving along this road is like teetering on the edge of the sea. The curvy road dips and arches over the brutal waves of the Norwegian Sea that often crash over the pavement during storms. This unique highway will bring you out to the very farthest point where the land ends and the ocean begins.

The Atlantic Road is part of Norwegian national road 64 (Rv 64). The road’s roller coasterfeel, curvy bridges and phenomenal views have made it a favorite of road trippers and motorcyclists. The construction of the road started on August 1983 and it took six years to be finished.

Its 8 breath-taking (and sometimes terrifying) bridges has become one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions. The weather in the area is also unpredictable and harsh with visibility disappearing quickly, strong winds, and sudden temperature drops. This road has been heralded as one of the most spectaculars roads in the world by the users.

It links the towns of Kristiansund and Molde, the two main population centers in the county of Møre og Romsdal in Fjord Norway. It starts approximately 30 kilometers southwest of Kristiansund and ends 47 kilometers north of Molde.

It’s a very popular tourist attraction in the country. The road includes 8 bridges with a total length of 891 metres. It was also designated a Cultural Heritage Site, is considered a National Tourist Route, and has been recognized as the Norwegian Construction of the Century. It’s one of the famous scenic drives in Norway.

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The road includes 8 bridges with a total length of 891 metres. The construction of the road started on August 1983 and the construction took six years. It was opened on 7 July 1989.

During construction the area was hit by 12 European windstorms.

The road was opened on July, 7th 1989. The first ten years the drivers had to pay toll to drive on it, but since 26th of june 1999 (at 03:00 p.m.) the road has been toll-free. The surface of the road is asphalt and had a cost of 122 million Norwegian krone. The Atlanterhavsveien is built on several small islands and is spanned by eight bridges and several landfills. The drive is definitely worth it. There are many excellent photo opportunities here. Don’t forget your camera!

The Atlantic Road, known as Atlanterhavsveien in Norwegian, is just about the most scenic route one could imagine. There are several panoramic views, and rest areas with facilities in bold architectural forms along the Atlantic Road. Here you can experience both nature and architecture in great interaction. Some of the viewing platforms are also popular with anglers trying to make a catch.

The weather on this zone is harsh and highly unpredictable and it does not take much time for the bright sun shine to change over to moderate to heavy snow fall. The biggest fear is the wind, which often exceeds 30 miles per hour on the bridge. It has taxed the nerves of more than a few drivers. The bridge becomes a truly treacherous drive during storms. Many people have a fear that when they drive over a bridge, they’ll end up in the water. If you can’t keep your eyes on the road due to the beautiful surroundings, you better just stop at one of the four viewpoints. Rain or shine, even during a storm the road is open, which can cause an unforgettable experience.

Driving on the Atlanterhavsveien is one of the most amazing road trips in the world.

Nowadays is a very popular tourist attraction: a serpentine highway twisting and turning over the treacherous Norwegian Sea. Beautiful nature, bendy roads and sometimes bad weather are a great combination that can describe this place!

Do not travel on this road in severe weather conditions. It has a very well-known reputation for being dangerous because of unpredictable snowstorms and blizzards in the winter months, and driving under these conditions, can be extremely challenging.

While it looks rather treacherous in bad weather conditions, Atlanterhavsveien is one of the most beautiful roads to travel in the world, with epic curves that can rival those of Continetal Europe.

This amazing destination that each driver should visit. The road was originally envisioned as a railway, but the plans never managed to materialize. The Atlantic Road meanders at the ocean’s edge, from island to island, across bridges and rock-fills.

This road has an open sea view which is not so common for roads along the Norwegian coast. Here the distance between the islands was so small that a road could be built across the archipelago. In addition there are fjords and mountains inside the road.

Visitors frequently use the road to go fishing for cod and other fish directly from the bridges.

One of the bridges is special designed for fishing. This breathtaking, scenic route is frequently listed amongst the world’s best road trips.

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ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ROADS TO TRAVEL IN THE WORLD

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Not a drive for the fainthearted, the Atlantic Road twists and turns through one of Norway’s most dramatic, stormprone seas and across the awe-inspiring Storseisundet Bridge – the tallest of the road’s eight bridges and a curved architectural feat that, when viewed from certain angles, appears to drop off straight into the sea.

There is little room for error on this road. It’s normal for your palms to sweat looking at those photos, imagine what it must have been like before the barriers. The route was originally proposed as a railway line in the early 20th century, but this was abandoned. Belly-flips and bridges make up this high-octane drive along the Norwegian coastline.

The overpass dips during this journey can be experienced between Kristiansund and Molde, and regular vicious storms in the area intensify the ride. If “technical” driving does nothing for you, get ready to see unusual birds flying overhead, while seals and whales swim off the coastline.

Plus, at dusk there’s a wickedly orange sunset.

A unique stretch of road which takes you right out to the ocean’s edge. In 2005, the road was voted Norway’s Engineering Feat of the Century, and is also known to be the world’s most beautiful drive.

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motorsport

DIXON WINS FIFTH INDYCAR CHAMPIONSHIP

S

cott Dixon is a cold-blooded assassin.

Always has been. He may not come across that way in his usually jolly post-race news conferences, but he’s a ruthless tactician who will do whatever it takes to get the job done.

Then, when the job is done, he moves on to the next job. So, in reality, Dixon will maybe allow himself a few moments of happiness before resetting, getting back to work and turning his ice cold gaze to 2019.

Because that’s who he is. That’s the Scott Dixon who will use every tool at his disposal to improve. He’ll pick the brain of every teammate and gobble up every last piece of data because that could make him a millisecond quicker out of a corner.

That’s the only way he’ll be able to keep racking up wins and championships. Other drivers can’t do that, his CGR companion and former competitor Dario Franchitti said. Dixon, however, is special.

Dixon surpassed legends in what can only be described as being in the most Scott Dixon way possible: cool, calm and collected. Starting from second place in Sunday’s race, the Ice Man drove flawlessly, taking few chances and making no mistakes en- route to a finish just behind race winner - Andretti Autosport’s Ryan Hunter-Reay.

The pressure on Dixon lifted a bit early in the race when his primary championship competitor, Alexander Rossi, started in disaster.

On the first lap, Rossi, 29 points back and desperate to charge up the field from his sixth starting position, made a mistake, driving into the rear of his Andretti Autosport teammate, Marco Andretti.

The crash did a number to Rossi’s front wing and caused a flat tire, forcing him to pit early.

Despite the early wreckage, the 26-year-old star did all he could to recover. Following a mid-race yellow caused by Graham Rahal, Rossi went on an absolute tear up the field. Staring 20th on the restart, Rossi ripped through the field with a series of dazzling maneuvers, climbing as high as fifth place before finishing sixth.

After the race, Rossi was frustrated by the start — wishing he “could replay that a million more times — but he was even more frustrated that Dixon’s legend will now be even harder to chase down.

“He’s going to be even tougher to catch now,” a disappointed but smiling Rossi said. “He just keeps adding to his resume.”

And you can expect him to continue. He’s not finished, Franchitti said. The drive to win is still there. The motivation still pulses throughout him. That’s why Dixon doesn’t like to talk much his accomplishments, Franchitti explained.

“You can’t think about what happens after the finish line,” Franchitti said. “You can’t take your eye off of it, or you’ll slip.”

“Five so far,” Franchitti said. “He’s still young.

Well somewhat (laughs). But he’s still at the top of his game. He’s still learning more tricks. And those he doesn’t know I’m still trying to teach him (laughs).

“What makes Scott so great is that even though he has more talent that probably anyone I ever raced against — and that’s saying a lot considering the guys I’ve been fortunate enough to go up against — he keeps working at it. His desire is exceptional. That’s what makes him who he is.”

drivenz

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September 2018

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motorsport

WHINCUP & DUMBRELL DOMINATE SANDOWN

O

n a day of domination for the all-conquering Red Bull Holden Racing Team, Whincup put on a 500km master class to beat teammate Shane van Gisbergen by almost seven seconds in a stunning show of speed.

Whincup was in a class of his own with greatest championship driver in history flawless as he and co-driver Paul Dumbrell made it three Sandown 500 wins as a pairing.

Holden hero Craig Lowndes finished third to make it an all Triple Eight Race Engineering podium – and thrash the Fords.

Dumbrell set-up the emphatic win by blasting his way to the front to win the start-line battle as the first endurance race of the season launched to life. Fresh from setting a lap record in practice and then qualifying, the No.1 car had launched clear to lead by 17 seconds when a safety car was called on lap 21. Dumbrell went back on his blitz when the race resumed and led Steve Richards by twenty seconds after 55 laps.

Dumbrell handed the car over to Whincup on lap 56 when another safety car ended his perfect stint. Out to resurrect his championship and score his fourth Sandown 500 win, Whincup continued the blitz by pulling away from the field when the race resumed on lap 60. The Red Bull record breaker was never challenged.

Starting in 11th place with co-driver Earl Bamber, van Gisbergen, blasted his way to second in a Red Bull “rocket’’.

Also mounting a rescue mission after starting in 10th, Craig Lowndes and Steve Richards made it a perfect day for Triple Eight Race Engineering by finishing third to make it a podium lock-out.

Scott McLaughlin held off a fast finishing Dave Reynolds to keep his championship dream well and truly alive with a fighting fourth.

Next stop is Mount Panorama, Bathurst, where with Triple Eight’s recent form will go up against last year’s record setting DJR Team Penske led

by Scott McLaughlin.

SANDOWN 500 RESULTS 1. Jamie Whincup / Paul Dumbrell

(Holden)

2. Shane Van Gisbergen / Earl Bamber (Holden)

3. Craig Lowndes / Steven Richards (Holden) 4. Scott McLaughlin / Alex Premat (Ford) 5. David Reynolds / Luke Youlden 6. Scott Pye / Warren Luff

(Holden)

(Holden)

7. Fabian Coulthard / Tony D’Alberto (Ford) 8. Rick Kelly / Gary Jacobson

(Nissan)

10. Chaz Mostert / James Moffat

(Ford)

12. Anton de Pasquale / Will Brown

(Holden)

9. Garth Tander / Chris Pither (Holden) 11. Will Davison / Alex Davison

(Ford)

13. Cameron Waters / David Russell (Ford)

14. Andre Heimgartner / Aaron Russell (Nissan) 15. Tim Slade / Ash Walsh

16. James Courtney / Jack Perkins

(Holden) (Holden)

17. Mark Winterbottom / Dean Canto (Ford)

18. James Golding / Richard Muscat (Holden) 19. Tim Blanchard / Dale Wood

20. Richie Stanaway / Steve Owen

(Holden) (Ford)

* Kiwis in BOLD

Top Sandown Retro Liveries

Garry Rogers - BATHURST 1978

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September 2018

Larry Perkins - 2002

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drivenz

Dick Johnson - BATHURST 1988

Grice / Bailey - BATHURST 1986

motorsport

HAMILTON CONTINUES WINNING WAYS

L

ewis Hamilton will head into the final six rounds with a 40-point title lead following a commanding win ­under the thousands of bulbs that light up the Marina Bay Street Circuit, in Singapore.

Ferrari pitted Vettel early in a bid to usurp Hamilton for the lead, but their move backfired as the German got caught up behind Sergio Perez and Verstappen, in clear air, stole the position.

This was supposed to be a Ferrari track, but Sebastian Vettel will leave the Far East staring down the barrel at another championship ­defeat to his relentless rival. He crossed the line only in third.Vettel should have finished one place higher, but for a Ferrari s­ trategy blunder costing him ­second place to Red Bull Racing driver Max ­Verstappen.

The foundations for Hamilton’s victory were laid in place after his dazzling pole lap. His start was then flawless, and even the squabbling backmarkers didn’t put ­Hamilton off his stride.

Kiwi Brendon Hartley finished 17th, finishing where he started. The F1 circus now heads north to Sochi for Russian Grand Prix.

FORMULA ONE SILLY SEASON Daniel Riccardo

Red Bull > Renault

Pierre Gasly

Torro Rosso > Red Bull

Carlos Sainz

Renault > McLaren

Charles LeClerc

Sauber > Ferrari

Kimi Raikkonen

Ferrari > Sauber

Lando Norris

GP2 > McLaren

B

rad Keselowski raced to his third consecutive NASCAR Cup victory Sunday, persevering through a wreckfilled Sunday afternoon and roaring away from the field in overtime to claim the playoff opener.

Keselowski secured team owner Roger Penske’s 500th victory across all competitions with a resourceful performance amid trying circumstances and 99-degree Las Vegas heat.

Kyle Larson was second, and defending Cup series champion Martin Truex Jr. third after a stop-and-start finish to a race that featured 12 cautions.

Cup favourites Kyle Busch finished 7th, whilst Kevin Harvick wrecked early in the race. Harvick still sits fourth in the first round of the playoffs thanks to his points accumulated during the regular season. The top 12 will advance to next stage after races at Richmond and Charlotte.

NASCAR PLAYOFFS BEGIN drivenz

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September 2018

21

motorsport KIWIS AROUND THE WORLD Hayden PADDON

Rally Turkey was a rally of attrition, as expected. Paddon’s Hyundai teammates Thierry Neuville and Andreas Mikkelson both had stints leading the rally as well as Sebastien Ogier before retiring. Hayden kept out of trouble to consolidate a podium.

WRC Turkey 3RD WRC Standing 10TH

Nick CASSIDY

Cassidy and co-driver Ryo Hirakawa were always going to be up against it in the latest round of Super GT with 94kg of ballast thanks to their championship lead. Nick’s consistency in Super Formula means he has a four point lead with one round to go.

SUPER GT Sugo DNF SUPER FORMULA Okayama 5TH SUPER GT Standing 3RD

SUPER FORMULA Standing 1ST

Marcus ARMSTRONG

Marcus Armstrong rebounded from a disappointing results at Misano, and despite average qualifying at the Nurburgring, fought back to have strong consistent finishes to maintain a top three position in the championship.

EUROPEAN F3 Nurburgring 6TH, 4TH, 5TH

EUROPEAN F3 Standing 3RD

Earl BAMBER

Prior to picking up a podium at the first round of the Supercars Endurance Cup with fellow kiwi Shane van Gisbergen, Earl and teammate Laurens Vanthoor picked up a podium finish in the states, putting them in range with one round remaining.

IMSA SPORTSCAR Laguna Seca 2ND

IMSA SPORTSCAR Standing 4TH

Chris VAN DER DRIFT

van der Drift contines to dominate the Asian Carrera Cup after winning on the streets of Singapore, after starting from position two on the grid. Chris now has a solid championship lead with four races remaining between Malaysia and China.

CARRERA CUP ASIA Singapore 1ST

CARRERA CUP ASIA Standing 1ST

Will BAMBER

Younger brother of Earl joined his compatriate Chris van der Drift on the podium in Singapore. Starting fourth on the grid, Will got up to 3rd and held off the chasing competitors to put himself in good championship position.

CARRERA CUP ASIA Singapore 3RD

CARRERA CUP ASIA Standing 4TH

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September 2018

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drivenz

worldtravel magazine

by Jimbro57 worldtravel worldtravel worldtravel worldtravel 2015 Issue Two

2013 Revisited - 2015 Issue Three

2016 Issue One

Korea’s Big City of Seoul

Oahu of Hawaii

Luxurious Abu Dhabi

French & Italian Riviera

Romania’s Epic Mountain Roads

Tropical Canary Islands

Island Gem Maurituis

Ghost City Pripyat

Ghostly New Zealand Mining Towns

Tokyo’s

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Ibiza

Colourful Cityscape

African Towns Taken by Nature

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Island Of Two Halves

2016 Issue Two

Georgia’s Colourful Capital

Stunning Greek Isle of Santorini

Moscow

Capital of Unreal Architecture

Plus All New Top 5: Wonders of the World

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2017 Issue Two

2017 Issue One

Good Times on the Isle Of Man

Tropical Fiji

The Gold Coast

Santiago: South America’s Gem

Chili Bowl Races

National Parks of NZ

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Antarctic Expedition

Climb Japan’s Highest Peak

Cruise

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This Issues Top 5: For The Car Enthusiast

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Historic Athens Amazing Andorra Dazzling Dubai

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