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SOL RALLY MOVED TO SEPTEMBER
ISSUE # 290
September 25 & 26 are the new dates for Sol Rally Barbados this year. And the Barbados Rally Club’s chairman Mark Hamilton in a communique, told members, that motorsport continues to be impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, and it had created challenges in the planning and the execution of events, coupled with the fluid nature of the environment and the external influences of Government Policy, as efforts continue to bring the pandemic under control locally, regionally and internationally. Flow King of the Hill is set for September 19, but dates will be confirmed by the club on June 1, if a further three months has seen significant success in the fight against Covid-19 around the world. Sol Rally Barbados is a tarmac event, contested over
MARCH - JUNE 2021
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Barbados Rally Club’s chairman Mark Hamilton 24 special stages run on an four-kilometre stage, the intricate network of public results of which are used to roads, under road closure seed the running order for orders granted by the Sol Rally Barbados. Ministry of Transport, As for the rest of the club’s Works & Maintenance 2021 calendar, Hamilton ahead of Flow King of the said the start of the club’s Hill, run under a similar sprint and stage rally disciarrangement, and features plines will be delayed until four timed runs on a nearly the weekend of August
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21/22, with a joint event to be run with the Motoring Club Barbados Incorporated (MCBI), and there will no ‘Shakedown Stages’ event this year and the championship will be shorter. “The remaining event dates currently listed in the Barbados Motoring Federation (BMF) calendar after August 21 will remain as previously indicated at this time, but are subject to change after review and inter-club consultation via the BMF, as a revised calendar is structured in the coming weeks,” Hamilton added. After the originallyplanned date June for Sol Rally Barbados was announced last December, the Coronavirus pandemic grew worse in Barbados and in the event’s major source markets, particularly the United Kingdom and the situation remains fluid, with
restrictions on public gathering and travel under constant review, although vaccination programmes on both sides of the Atlantic have given rise to cautious optimism that the pandemic may be brought under control in the coming months.
(Display until June 30)
This year’s Sol Rally Barbados will be the 14th year of title sponsorship by the Sol Group, the Caribbean’s largest independent oil company, and the sixth by communications provider Flow.
Block no longer with Ford
Sol Rally Barbados 2020 winner and American Gymkhana creator and mayhem mechanic Ken Block has parted ways with Ford. The 53-year old rally driver who left the Blue Oval from Subaru in 2010, had collaborated on a variety of increasingly crazy projects along the way and was also responsible for the destruction of many tyres said goodbye to Ford and is now a free agent. “Working with Ford over the past decade has been awesome, From racing all over the world, to accumulating a half-billion views from Gymkhana Three to Gymkhana Ten, to creating the Emmy nominated series The Gymkhana Files for Amazon Prime—alCont’d 4,,,,,,ong with building a fleet of Fords including the iconic AWD Mustang Hoonicorn and F-150 Hoonitruck—it’s been a great partnership," Block added. It started out innocently, with Block building a Fiesta WRC-based machine that could be switched between disciplines with a quick suspension Cont’d 4,,,,,,
Pincer-like LED lights for new Qashqai
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The next Nissan Qashqai has been teased in official photos from Nissan, showing elements of the finished car’s design along with photos of a prototype being tested. The Nissan Qashqai SUV is one of Britain’s best-selling vehicles. It’s an alternative to the Ford Kuga and Kia Sportage and the new version, which was seen in teaser images and official prototype photos released by Nissan, was unveiled on February 18. Fresh teaser images of the new Nissan Qashqai give you a little hint of what to expect from the design of the car. The front end will feature pincer-like LED lights with horizontal daytime-running lights, similar to those on the latest Juke, which flank the typical
MOTORING NEWS MARCH - JUNE 2021
Nissan V-shaped grille. Nissan Sales Manager at local dealers, Courtesy Garage the Covid-19 Pandemic said it’s another strong member of the Nissan family which should be seen in Barbados later this year. “The shutdown across the world has placed a damper on everything and we have no word as yet on the arrival of new vehicles”, he noted. Pictures previously released of a heavily-camouflaged prototype Nissan Qashqai gave little else away, but the new car’s expected to look quite similar to the current model. Familiar features such as the sculpted bonnet and the strong curve over the rear wheel arches can be made out here.
It appears as though Nissan has taken inspiration for the new Qashqai from the upcoming Ariya concept car. It’s difficult to say for sure, but the official teaser images seem to confirm the new Qashqai will have similar bumpers to this upcoming electric SUV. Nissan had released some technical details on the new car’s design ahead of its launch, confirming the new Qashqai has a flat floor to help smooth the airflow under the car and reduce drag. This should help make it quieter at speed and give fuel economy a boost. The new car also comes with an openable grille for the same reason. It remains closed most of the time and only lets in air when the engine needs some extra cooling.
Nissan Qashqai unveiled in the UK.
Further changes include some new headlights that adapt the shape of their beams according to the road conditions and other roadusers. The beam is divided into 12 individual elements that can switch off independently if the Qashqai detects another car ahead. For the all-new 2021
Qashqai, Nissan has developed an efficient 1.3-litre petrol engine with mild hybrid technology and will be available with 140hp and 160hp. The 140hp model will come with a manual gearbox and front-wheel drive as standard, but you’ll be able to get the 160hp engine with optional four-
wheel drive and an automatic gearbox if you prefer. The new Qashqai Qashqai will also have a hybrid model fitted with Nissan’s e-POWER system. It will use a petrol engine purely as a generator to charge the car’s batteries with a dedicated electric motor used to drive the car’s wheels.
MOTORING NEWS MARCH - JUNE 2021
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Inside Front
2019 Sol RB champions ready for new season
“We can still compete with the newer cars”. That the feeling of Sol Rally Barbados 2019 champion Dane Skeete as he and his team are in a holding pattern due to the Coronavirus Covid-19 Pandemic. He confirmed to Motoring News that they had some reliability issues but they had all beeen agttended too and dealt with and the Sol/Automotive Art/CO Williams Sand & Lime Subaru Impreza WRC S12B was ready and they are just waiting for the opening of the season. “I would like to get the car out and give it a test drive, but I have to wait until things are open up and the green light is given. The car is fitted with 34mm restrictor, all the remedial work has been done, so we are just waiting for things to get back to normal or to the new normal”, Skeete added. The 2019 Sol Rally Barbados said that due to the lockdown, he had not
driven the car and admitted that 2020 was not as rough as he and his team had expected it to be. “All we are looking for is to have fair competition and except for mechanical problems we will do well”, he added. He said all of his sponsors; Sol, CO Williams Sand & Lime and Automotive Art are again supporting his efforts and he is looking forward to good competition whenever the green light is given for motorsport to begin in Barbados. But the waiting is over as organisers of Sol Rally Barabdos, the Barbados Rally Club (BRC), in a communique to members that the weekend of September 25 & 26, are the new dates for the event and with Flow King of the Hill on the previous Sunday September 19. The chairman also said that the dates are yet to be Cont’d on page 5 ...
CRIME PREVENTION TIP:
Do not grow plants or trees that obstruct a clear view from windows and doors. Always ask how tall a plant grows before you purchase it. Positioning plants or trees is key to your safety. (From the Crime Prevention Department of the Royal Barbados Police Force)
Dane Skeete and co-driver Tyler Mayhew in the Sol /CO Williams Sand & Lime/Automotive Art Subaru S12B at Easy Hall in last year’s Sol Rally Barbados event.
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MOTORING NEWS MARCH - JUNE 2021
UK loses 2021 WRC spot The head of the World Rally Championship is "sad" the series will not get the chance to visit Northern Ireland in 2021, with Rally Ypres confirmed as taking its place. Jona Siebel made the comment after confirming the UK had lost its place on this year's WRC calendar to the Ypres Rally, marking Belgium's first WRC round. The Ypres Rally will go ahead in August, although a date for the Belgian tarmac classic has yet to be confirmed. It was added to 2020's heavily revised WRC calendar but had to be shelved a month before it was set to go ahead following a significant spike in the number of coronavirus cases in the country. "Ypres has been a hugely popular cornerstone of European rallying for more than half a century," said Siebel. Its elevation to the WRC will provide one of the season's sternest challenges and I'm delighted the championship will finally visit Belgium after last year's unfortunate delay. "Its tricky mix of narrow asphalt lanes with big ditches lining the roads, allied
with some stages in the dark and the potential for mixed weather, will provide plenty of thrills and spills for fans." Northern Ireland looked in line to stage Britain's round after Wales took a step back - but promoters struggled to convince Tourism Northern Ireland it represented good value for money. Those familiar with the business case - which was initially rejected by Tourism Northern Ireland last April before a new one was submitted six months later - put the cost of running such an event at £2m. The job of Bobby Willis the man who led the project - and Ian Paisley - the North Antrim MP who raised the issue in the House of Commons - has been made tougher because of the coronavirus health pandemic. It means that for the second consecutive season, rallying's top flight will go ahead without a scoring round in the United Kingdom. "It's sad that the World Rally Championship will not enjoy the beauty of Northern Ireland this year, but the pandemic continues to impact the global econo-
Flashback to the 2019 UK WRC podium, the last time the UK hosted the event. my," Siebel said. Siebel said discussions between the WRC and Rally Northern Ireland stakeholders will continue to try and find a way forward - a message that has been reiterated by Willis. We must accept the situation for 2021 and
Block, ‘Blue Oval’ part company Cont’d from page 1 ,,, change, before taking on the WRC itself with mixed results. The foray with Ford then morphed into a tilt at the crazily competitive FIA World Rallycross Championship with a twocar Focus team, before Block pulled back from international competition in 2017. Along the way there has been a brace of amazing Ford-badged projects pushed through Hoonigan, the media arm that Block –
who parlayed a US$10,000 loan from his parents into DC Shoes, which sold for US$88 million – used to great effect to net more than half a billion video views over the last decade. From a sweet Escort MkII to rare Escort Cosworths – one of which met a fiery end – customised Transits and a genuine RS200 Group B car, Block and his team also created bespoke beasts such as the all-wheel-drive Hoonicorn Mustang and the 500kW Hoonitruck along the way.
Block signed with Ford in 2010. In addition to his drift-specific stunt cars, he's raced a Ford Escort Cosworth rally car, along with a handful of Fiesta and Focus competition cars. All played starring roles in his Gymkhana video series. During his time with Ford, Block took home 19 race wins, 17 additional podium finishes, two X Games medals and points finishes in the World Rally Championship—the first scored for the brand by an American driver.
focus on our discussions to explore the avenues for 2022," said the Belfast businessman. According to the businessman, Tourism Northern Ireland recognises that hosting Rally Northern Ireland in 2021 represents a posiBefore his partnership with Ford, Block spent five years driving Subaru WRX STIs,
tive opportunity to profile the region globally and would serve to celebrate Northern Ireland's motorsport heritage. "However, it feels COVID19 could diminish the substantial economic benefits the World Rally beginning his professional rally career in 2005 with Vermont SportsCar, makers
Championship historically bestows upon its host regions, and therefore investment would not represent best value for public money at this time," he added. of Subaru's official factory stage rally cars.
American driver Ken Block and co-driver Alex Gelsomino in a Ford Fiesta Rally 2 on the Four Hill, St. Peter stage during Sol Rally Barbados last year 2020. The pair went on to win the event.
MOTORING NEWS MARCH - JUNE 2021
P age 5
Radical Caribbean Cup expanding The SR1 Cup will be added to Radical Caribbean Cup next year. And the organiser of the Radical Caribbean Cup (RCC) has confirmed that the ‘entry level’ SR1, will complement the SR3, which has been the sole chassis raced in the category since it was established in 2015. The organisers said that it would be two separate championships with a champion crowned in each at year-end. While announcing its longer-term plans, the Bushy Park-based organisation also confirmed that it still hopes to run the 2021 Radical Caribbean SR3 Cup, but only if the quarantine and travel restrictions imposed by the coronavirus pandemic are relaxed enough to make it feasible. While the SR1 is British manufacturer Radical’s ‘entry level’ chassis, it is still a full-on purpose-built race car that can generate lap times faster than GT4 cars costing three times as much. Powered by a 1340cc Suzuki engine developing 182bhp and mated to a sixspeed sequential gearbox with paddle-shift, the lightweight (490kg) SR1 has a maximum speed nearing 140mph. Radical Caribbean is offering a complete ‘starter kit’ comprising a new Radical SR1 car as well as a season’s SR1 Cup race entry fees. Championship co-ordinator Kurt Seabra said they are looking forward to
introducing the highly-rated entry-level championship which will offer a great way for regional competitors to enter the world of sports car racing at a very attractive budget. “The ‘spec racer’ format keeps the field level and the competition focused on driving skill, not the size of a driver’s wallet . . . and the light-weight, purpose-built SR1 delivers a pure racing experience at lap times faster than other race cars costing several times as much,” Seabra noted. The island’s first coronavirus cases were confirmed shortly after the opening round of the 2020 Radical Caribbean Cup at Bushy Park Barbados last March, after which the travel restrictions across the region made it impossible to continue. In the two seasons before that, rounds had also been run at the Frankie Boodram Wallerfield International Raceway in Trinidad & Tobago and Guyana’s South Dakota. There had been eight different winners in 24 races, with 2018 Champion Stuart Maloney of Barbados the most successful over the two years, claiming seven victories and a further six podium finishes, one pole position and four fastest laps. Despite failing to win a race in his debut season, Jamaica’s William Myers beat the reigning champion to the 2019 crown by seven points after an impressively
Flashback to last year’s Radical SR3 Cup action at BrandsHatch. consistent performance netted him nine podium finishes. “We would love to run our 2021 SR3 Cup, but everything is up in the air at the moment. There are encouraging signs coming out of Guyana and Trinidad - both have had some form of motor sport event recently – but we can’t consider going ahead until we know what the travel protocols will be,” Seabra added.
Covid-19. Stay Safe... Follow the protocols
Skeete, Mayhew ready for season
From page 3 ... confirmed by the club on June 1, if a further three months has seen significant success in the fight against Covid-19 around the world. The club’s chairman Mark Hamilton motorsport continues to be impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic creating challenges in the planning and execution of events. “This is primarily driven by the fluid nature of the environment and the external influences of Government Policy as they battle to bring the Pandemic under control locally, regionally and internationally,” he added. As for the rest of the club’s 2021 calendar, he said the start of sprint and stage rally disciplines will be delayed until the weekend of August 21/22, with a joint event to be run with the Motoring Club of Barbados Inc (MCBI). And with the championship once again squeezed into a shorter time frame, there will be no Shakedown Stages rally again this year.
‘F1 cars for 2021 season unveiledʼ Page 6
MOTORING NEWS MARCH - JUNE 2021
F1 champions Mercedes Petronas at their launching. From left, driver’s champion Lewis Hamilton, Team Principal Toto Wolff and Varteri Bottas.
McLaren: Sporting new livery for 2021
Red Bull testing at Silverstone.
Ferrari 2021
Williams 2021
Basket of prizes for St. Peter truck driver MOTORING NEWS MARCH - JUNE 2021
St.Peter truck driver Randolph Hinds drove away with a basket of Ultra Products at the Track Batteries Christmas draw. A division of Big Gases Ltd, Cane Garden, St. Thomas, the Track Batteries basket included Ultra engine oil, radiator coolant, windshield washer fluid, NP Degreasers, gear oil and a cross-section of other lubricants. After receiving the prizes,
Hinds, in an upbeat mood, said it was the third time that he had won anything from taking part in shopping at christmas and he is happy to have won, adding that he is a regular customer of the company and had bought a Track Battery to get into the competition. “I like the products marketed and sold by the company and I was told by a relative that the Track Batteries are good and I
bought one. I am also a regular customer at Big Gases and Track Batteries, as well as my family and I am very happy to have won. Except for one item in the assortment, everything else can be used on my diesel truck”, he added. Sales Executive Steve Mark, who presented the prizes at the companies Cane Garden, St. Thomas complex, said the response to the christmas competition
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Sales Executive Steve Mark, right, and Track Batteries Christmas competition winner Randolph Hinds, left, share the moment after the presentation.(Picture by Trevor Thorpe) was very good and the company is please with the outcome. “We wanted to give back something to the community in which we serve and despite being under a pandemic and having to observe social distancing, the public responded very well and after the initiative is reviewed, we may look favourably at doing it
again”, the sales executive noted. Mark also drew reference to former Barbados Auto Racing League (BARL) and Bushy Park Motor Sport Incorporated’s (BPMSI) group champion Shawn ‘Shortman’ Eversley whose Suzuki Swift GTi gets its power from a Track battery. “We are proud with the performance of our batteries
and of Eversley. He is a very good ambassador in and outside of motorsport for Track batteries and without letting out any secrets, he has completed remedial work on the car and will be packing a punch as soon as things are back to normal and he could get to the startline”. He said the company also offers free battery checks-ups to the public.
Eulogist: Ben Graham was ‘The Greatest’
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Benedict Joseph Graham was described as a man of integrity, honesty, hardworking, dedicated and fun loving by eulogist Marc Dabaiya. A former work colleague of Graham, Dabaiya said the dictionary could run short of superlatives when you start looking to describe the statuesque Ben Graham. He was also humorous, adventurous, caring, committed, humble and respectful, confident, loving, kind, God fearing, compassionate, inspiring and forgiving. And as he cronicled Graham’s adult life into adulthood which started at the age of 13 when he began his mechanical apprenticeship with Cole & Company Limited on Bay Street, until he sailed from Barbados to Dominica and subsequently living in Antigua and Montserrat, Dabaiya said he was never a person to anger but spoke frankly without any malice
or hate. After his escapades in Antigua, Dominica and Montserrat, the eulogist said Graham returned to Barbados and in that same year he made one of the biggest decisions which would redirect his young life - he left for England. During the six years he spent in England Graham worked with Paul Emery Cars Ltd as an Auto Mechanic and so impressed was the management with him and the quality of his work, that on a return visit to England, he was given a holiday job at Emery Cars. Although still a lad, his employers were impressed with his love and knowledge of mechanics, his raw talent and skill and would remark that his work was that of an adult. Graham returned to Barbados in 1970 as he had started to grow home sick and wanted his grandmother to meet his son Anderson,
but it was not without adventure and he recalled a fire on the ship and not once afraid that he would not make it home as he was prepared to craft a life boat if he had to. He made it home and his
MOTORING NEWS MARCH - JUNE 2021
Pallbearers carrying the body of former engineer and driver Ben Graham into the chapel at Coral Ridge at the start of the service of thanksgiving.(Pictures by Trevor Thorpe)
Talking a last look at engineer extradinaire, Benedict Joseph ‘Ben’ Graham in the Chapel of the Coral Ridge Memorial Gardens, Christ Church, January 23, 2021.
A number of past and present drivers turned out to pay their last respects to former driver and engineer, Benedict Joseph Graham January 23, 2021.
granny was thrilled to have him home again and to see her grandson. The talented Graham was quickly scooped up by Seawell Air Services where his engineering skills were exceptional as a Ground Equipment Mechanic and he soon moved up the ladder to Senior Ground Engineer in the maintenance department with responsibility of the maintenance of the company’s aviation fleet. However, Graham later decided to venture into his own business, and he opened his own Auto Repair Shop after leaving Seawell Air Services. It was during these formidable years that his love of cars and mechanics became the embodiment of the man he was. He lived and
breathed mechanics and was a household name in the entire Long Bay community and Barbados and became a force with which to reckon in the motorsport fraternity and became a legend, having built racing cars and prepared many others for race meets. Probably the most talked aspect of his involvement in motorsport was the venerable Hillman Imp. Not only was Graham known for his mechanical skills, but also his driving skills. Outside of motorsport, he was described by many of his friends as a respected community man and a man who shared his knowledge with anyone who was willing to learn. A revered teacher, he inspired with his knowledge
and skill and was dependable and helpful, not only in mechanics and a longtime friend said that he was the kind of person who would lend a hand whether you wanted a pipe fixed or a light changed. “He would leave whatever he was doing and come and lend a hand. He was a man who was always giving to others without expecting any benefit to himself. Just the satisfaction of knowing he was able to help someone and to teach his skill to others”, he added. According to the eulogist , there was nothing in engineering or mechanics that Ben Graham could not have done. He was also described as an inventor and was seen as the ‘greatest’.
MOTORING NEWS MARCH - JUNE 2021
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Legendary Formula 1 commentator Murray Walker passes on
His voice came to define Formula 1 for generations of fans – but now the voice of legendary commentator Murray Walker is silent. He passed away Saturday March 13, aged 97. A war veteran and former motorcycle racer and trials champion, Walker’s broadcasting career began in 1948 at the Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb, going on to cover a
whole gamut of motorsports, from touring cars to truck racing to rallycross. But it was in Formula 1 where Walker really came to prominence, becoming the BBC’s full-time commentator from 1978. He would only call time on his career after the 2001 United States Grand Prix – with Walker having won the affection of F1 fans the world over in
the intervening years, not just for his passionate, excitement-filled commentaries of the sport's most iconic moments, but for his humble manner. "The lead car is absolutely unique, except for the one behind it which is identical”, “there's nothing wrong with his car except that it's on fire” and “unless I am very much mistaken.... I am
Murray Walker
very much mistaken” are all phrases that have gone down in the annals of the sport, with Walker having been a member of the paddock much-loved by drivers, team principals and fellow media figures alike. “I always regarded it as my brief not just to inform but
to entertain,” Walker said in an interview in 2011. “I knew that 95 per cent of my audience weren’t interested in the diameter of the gudgeon pin. What they wanted was to share the excitement that I was lucky enough to be witnessing. And lucky is the word: my work has
taken me round the world umpteen times to countries I would never otherwise have visited, and I have rubbed shoulders with some outstanding people. I have been incredibly, gigantically lucky.”
Solid day for Shell V-Power racing team at Bathhurst
The Shell V-Power Racing Team had a solid day of racing as the Mt Panorama 500 wrapped up at Bathurst. Bouncing back from a DNF February 27 race,.Anton De Pasquale finished P4 and Will Davison P6 in Race 2 of the Repco Supercars Championship. It was a second-row lockout for the start of the 250 km sprint around the mountain, with De Pasquale and Davison again proving their pace by Qualifying P4 and P5 and progressing to the Top Ten Shootout. De Pasquale had the advantage of contesting the Shootout on green tyres, and even though Davion was on used tyres, he still put together a stellar lap to finish one place behind his teammate. They started P3 and P4 for the final 40-lap hit-out of the weekend. Davison was slightly slower off the start line than his teammate and had to work hard to hold off Mostert on the way up the mountain. Both Shell V-Power Racing Team drivers held their positions, but Mostert did not relent on trying to pass Davison during the opening lap. He continued to closely stalk him and finally made his move on the third lap at turn 1. Courtney hit the wall at The Cutting on lap 9, and while damage was significant, it was not enough for a safety car to be called. As car No. 44 limped back to the pits, both De Pasquale and Davison remained out on track and continued to push on until Davison pitted on lap 11. De Pasquale remained in the battle pack in P3 for the opening stint’s duration before making his first stop for fuel and tyres on lap 14. He returned to the race ahead of Mostert but lost his position after a small lock-up at The Chase while trying to defend against him. The No. 100 and No. 17 Ford Mustangs trucked along consistently and uncontested in the middle stint in P4 and P5. Davison pitted on lap 22 for a long fuel stop and tyres, and De Pasquale followed suit on the next lap. With their final stops completed, they rejoined the race still positioned behind van Gisbergen, Waters and Mostert, and focussed on the final 17-lap stint home. Davison was held up by lapped traffic, so was undercut by Winterbottom and pushed back to P6. Then lost the rear at the final corner and was passed by Whincup with just 10 laps remaining. The duo finished in the top seven, with De Pasquale passing the chequered flag in P4 and Davison P7 – a solid result for the team in the opening round of the season. Drivers’ Championship Standings: • 4th - Davison - 225 points • 18th - De Pasquale - 120 points Teams’ Championship Standings: • 4th Shell V-Power Racing Team - 345 points.
‘We make it look like new, when we’re through’
Verstappen the driver to watch in 2021 season Page 10
Low-key. That’s how Max Verstappen is playing it as he prepares for another tilt at a maiden Formula 1 world championship with Red Bull, the Dutchman insisting he is “realistic” about his chances and the target is to make “more difficult” for defending champions Mercedes. Verstappen is going through his fifth pre-season with Red Bull and is widely considered to be one of Lewis Hamilton’s greatest threats for the 2021 crown. “We don’t know yet, to be honest,” said Verstappen of Red Bull’s title chances. "I am always very realistic and it makes no sense to talk about stuff now. We have to
go to Bahrain and look at it there, and at the first race, and see if we succeeded or not. We know where we want to be and where we want to get to and that’s what we now need to try and realise.” He added: “I just don’t want to hype things up. I want to stay low key and focus on our job. We should do the talking on the track, not next to the track. That’s what I prefer.” The 10-time race winner will have his fourth different team mate in as many years, with Sergio Perez – who took his maiden victory in Bahrain last year - joining to replace Alex Albon, with the duo getting their
first taste of the RB16B at Silverstone during a shakedown on Wednesday February 24. Albon didn’t score heavily enough for Red Bull last year – and it is hoped Perez, whose impressive consistency landed him a brilliant fourth in the drivers’ championship last year, despite missing two Grands Prix having tested positive for Covid-19 - will raise Red Bull's threat level. “We always want to score with two cars as high as possible,” said Verstappen. “Let’s see if that is going better this year. That’s the goal, what we all want, to make it a bit more difficult for Mercedes – they must be the favourites still. Let’s see
Monaco GP going ahead
Monaco Grand Prix organisers insist its Formula 1, Formula E and Historic GP events are all going ahead as planned, despite ongoing concerns over COVID-19 restrictions. The Automobile Club de Monaco has responded to speculation in some sections of the media that its grand prix, currently scheduled for 23 May, could be cancelled, as was the case last year. The next two races on the 2021 F1 calendar after Monaco - the Azerbaijan and Canadian GPs - have also been called into question. Events at street or temporary venues with government backing are widely regarded as being more vulnerable to cancellation or postponement than races at traditional venues, in large part due to the lead time and resources required to ready the circuits. Like Monaco, Baku is a full street circuit that requires weeks of preparation at considerable expense, and while Montreal is a semi-permanent venue, it does require extra work every year. All promoters learned a lesson last year after the Australian GP was cancelled at the last minute and fans had to be refunded. This year's Albert Park race has already been moved from its regular March date to November. The ACM is planning to run three events on the principality's streets in 2021, rather than the usual two, having reserved an extra slot for the Historic GP meeting that was cancelled last year. Track action is due to start on 23 April with practice for the historic event, so the build-up has to commence around two weeks earlier than normal, with late February understood to be the starting point. Like other countries around the world Monaco is subject to COVID-19 restrictions, with a negative test required for entry, and a 7pm curfew currently in place. The club noted on Twitter: "Despite the latest rumours circulating on certain websites and social media, the ACM can confirm that the #MonacoGP will take place from 20-23 May 2021. The ACM also confirms the Grand Prix Monaco Historique (23-25 April 2021) and the Monaco E Prix (8 May 2021).
MOTORING NEWS MARCH - JUNE 2021
Red Bull's Max Verstappen. how everything goes.” We’ve yet to see any images of the RB16B on track, with Red Bull keeping their cards close to their chest ahead of pre-season testing. When asked what he is hoping to get from the car when he drives it in anger at testing, Verstappen said:
“More grip, more power. “People always talked about the rear-end being so twitchy, I think it’s just general grip we were lacking a bit. Also, we were a bit down on power. We know that - there’s no secret behind it, you can see it. “So we worked a lot with
Honda throughout the winter. It’s all looking promising but it doesn’t make sense now to hype it all up. First, it’s more important to get to the track in Bahrain and try to do the best amount of learning we can on the car and the engine to optimise everything.”
MOTORING NEWS MARCH - JUNE 2021
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The new C-Class incorporates plenty of driver-assist and safety technology.
All-new Mercedes-Benz C-Class coming
A new Mercedes C-Class usually puts the automotive world "on the edge of its seat"), as generational changeovers tend to bring major transformations. And that's exactly the case with the completely redesigned 2022 C-Class, the three-pointed star's newest compact luxury sedan. It's all new from soup to nuts, and it might already be causing headaches over in Munich and Ingolstadt. Why so aufregug? Beyond the fact that the outgoing car was the first C in a long time—maybe ever—to feel like a proper Mercedes, this newest C-Class is essentially a shrunken 2021 Mercedes S-Class. While that might sound like the typical German automotive copy-and-paste job, the new S packs so much new luxu-
ry and tech that it didn't just move the goalposts forward, it punted them into next week. The 2022 C-Class looks to bring a similar approach to bear in its segment. There are large changes everywhere, but let's start with the exterior. Being a redesign, the W206 C-Class shares virtually nothing with its predecessor, the W205. The S-Classaping sheetmetal is totally fresh and the new C is now longer, lower, and wider than the version it replaces; when specified with the AMG Line package you see here, it really is quite handsome. The wheelbase has been stretched by an inch, too, which should grant more room to rear passengers as well as impart greater stability at high speed. The headlights are squinty LED units, the grille
is larger than before, and the whole car has a more elegant look to it. As you'd expect, the rear takes its cues from the S-Class, including the chrome exhaust finishers and taillights that extend from the rear fenders to the trunklid. In the U.S. market, just one powertrain will exhale through the aforementioned exhaust garnishes, a new 2.0-liter turbocharged four cylinder with a mild-hybrid setup (that's EQ Boost in Mercedes speak) with an integrated started generator (ISG). Together, the engine and EQ Boost system combine to make 255 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 295 lbft of torque from 2,000 to 3,200 rpm. Nominal horsepower is exactly the same as the current model—the electric motor can increase total output by up to 20
horses for short periods, however—while torque is up by 22 lb-ft. This version will carry the C300 badge. Europe will offer multiple variants of turbo four-cylinder C-Classes, including a C180 and C200, among others, as well as diesel models, but those won't reach our shores. Power is routed through a new nine-speed automatic that's said to be 30 percent lighter than the unit it replaces; output is then routed to either the rear or, on 4Matic models, all four wheels. The new C is said to run from zero to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds regardless of the number of driven wheels. Mercedes excised the previous C's six-cylinder engine from the lineup because it says the extra torque from the EQ Boost means drivers likely won't notice a difference between this slightly punchier I-4 and the old V-6. Mercedes also estimates efficiency gains of 10 to 15 percent, but official fuel-economy ratings aren't yet available from the EPA. In addition, a wagon variant was launched alongside the sedan, but we will once again be denied the coolest and most useful version of the C-Class. Boo. Mercedes won't confirm whether a new C43 AMG will once again serve as the stepping-stone model between the workaday C and the maniacal C63
AMG, but if it does, expect four-cylinder power. The same will be true for the next C63, which will combined the four with hybrid hardware to deliver a proper level of grunt—so, yes, that means the V-8 is seemingly out. Should that come to fruition, know that AMG can already squeeze huge horsepower from a nonhybrid four-cylinder engine, so electrification is likely to provide a pretty hefty bump. Even so, we're going to miss the C63's sledgehammer rumble. Electrification is in full swing at Mercedes, but don't expect to see an EV version of this C-Class, as Mercedes didn't want to compromise its packaging to fit the necessary batteries. The brand does have plenty of EQ-branded electric models on the way, though, as well as the current EQC crossover. Not much space in the press materials is given over to the C's actual chassis— you know, the thing that allows it to handle and steer, but Mercedes does reveal that every C gets active dampers, a new four-link suspension up front, and a multilink setup out back. AMG Line cars get a "sport suspension," which is to say a stiffer tune. Hop inside the new C, and the first thing you'll likely notice is the new, 11.9-inch infotainment display that
dominates the center stack. Tilted six degrees in the direction of the driver, the screen controls most of the car's functions and serves as a primary interface with MBUX 2, Mercedes' clever—if not somewhat convoluted—infotainment system. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster sits ahead of the driver and can be customized to show whatever information the driver prefers via Classic, Sporty, and Essential modes. While it's not specifically the exact same 30-inch AR setup from the S-Class, the C-Class's trick HUD can display navigation directions as though they're floating above the road ahead. A fingerprint scanner in the center console allows various users to log in to MBUX for easier access to their preferences and settings, various music-streaming are fully integrated into the infotainment, and overthe-air updates will keep the system running on the freshest software version. The new 2022 C-Class appears to take what was so successful about its predecessor—handsome looks, a high-quality interior, and ofthe-moment technology— and cranked them up. The C300 and C300 4Matic will land in the U.S. early next year at prices yet to be revealed, but expect to pay a modest increase over the current entry point.
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The Subaru 360: It was the first mass produced automobile in Japan. The Subaru 360 was the first automobile mass produced in Japan by Fuji Industries Subaru division. The 360 was produced from 1958 to 1971. The 360 featured an air-cooled, 2-stroke 356 cc engine mounted
The S 360: A for its MOTORING NEWS, MARCH - JUNE 2021
transversely at the rear, similar to the arrangement in a Volkswagen Beetle. The engine was designed with a capacity of less than 360cc so that the Subaru 360 would qualify for Japan's Keicar class. This automo-
bile was noted for its highly efficient engine. The body was of monocoque construction and featured a fiberglass roof panel which was considered very advanced for 1958. The Subaru came in many body
styles including work vehicles. Coupe
Nicknamed the 'ladybug' in Japan, the 360 was Fuji Heavy Industries attempt to design a kei car: small inexpensive, 'people's car' of under 360cc that could seat four. Subaru built 392,000 examples from 1958 to 1971. Japan needed the 356cc Ek31/E32 parallel 2stroke, air-cooled, 16 horsepower twin engine, the US import was fitted with a 423cc version which gave more. In a rear-engined car that weighed about 900 pounds (the steel monocoque used a fiberglass roof), via a 3-speed manual transmission, 60 mph could be reached, although zero to 50 mph could take as much as 37 seconds. The Subaru 360 was introduced in 1958 with importation to the United States occurring nearly a decade later. The US importation was handled by Malcolm Bricklin. The 360 was powered by an air-cooled, 2-stroke engine that displaced 356cc and was mounted transversely in the rear of the vehicle. The layout was similar to the Volkswagen Beetle, but the 360 was much smaller, less popular, and less powerful. The small engine displacement meat it qualified for Japan's keicar class. The small engine produced 16 horsepower and provided 66 mpg. Near the close of production, the power had risen to 25 horsepower. A twin-
carbureted engine option was later offered as optional, which increased horsepower to 36. The car featured a fiberglass roof panel and a monocoque construction frame. There were a variety of bodystyles that evolved over the years. The twodoor coupe with seating for four was standard; a station wagon, dubbed the Custom, was one of the variations of the 360. A convertible, and two sport models known as the Young S, were other variations. The Subaru 360 was replaced, in 1971, by the Subaru R-2. Though Subaru wasn't the first or best-selling of the post-war people's vehicles, the 360 fit the bill for cityfriendly, economical, inexpensive and even oddly stylish transportation for four passengers. The first automobile mass produced by Fuji Heavy Industries' Subaru division was the Subaru 360 that was produced from 1958 until 1971. Featuring an air-cooled, 2 stroke 356 cc engine that was mounted transversely at the rear, the 360 was one of the more notable vehicles which adopted an arrangement that wasn't nearly as accepted in the world marketplace as the similarly shaped Volkswagen Beetle.
M
Subaru A car s time
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MOTORING NEWS MARCH - JUNE 2021
The Subaru 360 was powered by an engine that was designed with a capacity of less than 360cc. On the small island of Japan as the number of cars on city streets grew, traffic jams and parking headaches became more commonplace. Japan's Ministry of International Trade and Industry attempted to counteract the congestion and determined a strict
size and specification limits for all classes of vehicles; the smallest and most city-friendly class was the Kei-jidosha, or K-class of cars. The K-class was first established in 1955, and required that the vehicles be no longer than 9 feet, 10 inches and have an engine with
no more than 360cc of displacement. K-class cars were very popular, and purchasers of K-class cars enjoyed tax benefits and were allowed to park their vehicles on city streets overnight.
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Motoring News 3 Tranquility Drive, Greenpoint, St.Philip Barbados. West Indies. Tel. (246) 823-1117/423-0353 Founded January 17, 1997
E-Mail: motoringnews34@gmail.com Website: www.motoringnewsonline.com
MOTORING NEWS MARCH - JUNE 2021 Editor: Trevor Thorpe Reporters: Frederick Ferraro, Justin Weir, The Onlooker Pens, Regional & International: JMann, Electronic Services Inc. Advertising: MN Advertising, Photography: MN Pix Clix, Lindsay Farmer, Warren Gollop, Corey Reece, Simon Slade, treVor Thorpe, justbajan.com, Colbert Goddard. Motoring News is a monthly publication covering local, regional and international motorsport and the automobile industry. It is circulated worldwide.
Motoring News -
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Dams for farmers coming Water woes will soon be a thing of the past for farmers in St. Lucy and St. Philip. Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Indar Weir said that a Water Project will be rolled out soon which would assist farmers, not only in St. Lucy, but in
St. Philip as well. “It would be a metered system and farmers in Mount Poyer, which is a dry area, will share with the farmers in Springhall as with other farmers”, the minister added. Farmer Sherrie Stevenson
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Indar Weir.
of New Heights Agro Farms, Mount Poyer, St. Lucy, one of the farmers in the Farmers' Empowerment and Enfranchisement Drive (FEED) of the Barbados Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (BADMC), had complained
Helping herself: Farmer Sherrie Stevenson doing her own watering at New Heights Agro Farms, Mount Poyer, St. Lucy.
of problems with water at her farm and of other farmers in the northern parish. “I started with the rain and was hoping that someone would have come to our assistance as water is the lifeblood of farmers, but nothing has happened although there is a well nearby”, she noted. She said the farmers at the Springhall Land Lease project are fearing better and she is hoping that help is not far off as it putting immense pressure on her go on. “The farmers at Springhall have been in the business far longer than I have been, but as we are the young farmers I thought that things for us would have been better. We have been given land but no water. All we want is water and things would change for us”, she said.
Stevenson said there is a well nearby, but repairs need to be carried out to put it back in working condition and that could go a long way in remedying the water problems she and other farmers are having in St. Lucy. But Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Indar Weir the water problems are being addressed. Wells in St. Lucy will be cleaned so that when it rains the water would go back into the aquifers, and work on the water project has started and two dams will be built at River, St. Philip and one at Springhall, St. Lucy. He said an irrigation system is among the plans for Mount Poyer and wells had already been recommissioned and farmers there would soon be getting some ease when the new system
is up and ready. The minister said too, that there is much going on in agriculture including a legislative framework to tackle praedial larceny, the Three Houses Spring Act to be repealed as well as the controlled use of pesticides.
Keep Barbados Clean... A message from Motoring News.
MOTORING NEWS MARCH - JUNE 2021
Motoring News Business Centre ... Business Centre
Apple, Hyundai talking self-drive cars
Apple has approached Hyundai Motor Group to propose cooperation in its efforts to develop an electric car.
The idea of a self-driving, electric Apple Car is tantalizing and insiders are suggesting Hyundai is the latest automaker to want a piece of the action. The buzz started with a report in the Korea Economic Daily in which a Hyundai Motors executive said the automaker was one of a number of global car-
makers in early talks with Apple about a possible partnership. It is understood that Apple approached Hyundai about producing the electric car and supplying batteries. Korea is a global leader in lithium-ion battery cells. Hyundai Motor Co. looks to be in the early stages of discussions with Apple Inc.
to jointly develop and produce self-driving electric cars, a move that could reshape the global electric vehicle market if realized. A Hyundai Motor official said on Jan. 8 that multiple global automakers, including Hyundai, are in negotiations with the US firm for a possible EV tie-up, although the South Korean compa-
ny’s talks with Apple are just beginning. Hyundai later released an updated statement through a regulatory filing that it has been “receiving requests of cooperation from diverse companies regarding the development of autonomous EVs, but no decisions have been made as discussions are in the initial phase." The Hyundai statement came in response to a report by The Korea Economic Daily’s TV news unit earlier that Apple has approached Hyundai Motor Group to propose cooperation in its efforts to develop an electric car as well as rechargeable batteries used in EVs, and Hyundai is reviewing the proposal. On the Seoul stock market, shares of Hyundai Motor and affiliates surged on a possible tie-up with Apple. Apple is a notoriously secretive company, so outsiders were not surprised to read a subsequent statement
from Hyundai that specifically did not mention Apple. But a source familiar with the negotiations said Hyundai is in talks with Apple for "consumerfocused technology and potentially a vehicle." Apple has been quiet on the matter and gave no information. News reports are that Apple's continued work will yield self-driving technology it hopes to use in a passenger car—not a shuttle or pod—that is on the road toward the end of 2027. Reuters say Apple is also working on its own battery technology that would radically reduce cost. Tesla is also working on a new battery that Musk says will cut costs significantly. But it appears Apple will tap an existing automaker to manufacture the vehicle. Past talks with contract manufacturer Magna failed to reach an agreement and no one is ruling out a scenario where Apple sources
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someone else's electric vehicle and installs its own autonomous driving tech. Analysts say a partnership between the two companies would create synergy as Hyundai, with its mass-production capabilities, can manufacture EVs designed by Apple, with its strength in software. “Under a tie-up, Hyundai can provide its EV platform to Apple, which in turn can provide the needed technology and software for electric cars. If realised, it would be a giant leap for the Korean auto industry,” said Samsung Securities auto analyst Im Eun-young. Hyundai Motor Chairman Chung Euisun, who took the helm of the automotive group in October last year, has said the company will actively push for new growth businesses focusing on EVs, hydrogen fuel cell cars and future mobility platforms.
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MOTORING NEWS MARCH - JUNE 2021
Crew chief and motorsport icon and legend Peter ‘Jacko’ Moodie (Sr), left, with former champions Gary ‘The Colonel’ Gregg and William Myers, right, in the pits at Bushy Park during the international race meet of 2019.(Picture by treVor Thorpe)
Caribbean loses motorsport icon
The Caribbean has lost one of the brightest sons of the automotive industry and motorsport. Peter Moodie (Sr), affectionately called “Jacko”, passed away on Saturday March 20, 2021 after a short illness. Renowned throughout Jamaica, the Caribbean, North and South America for his commitment to excellence and meticulous approach to motor racing competition, which became his hallmark throughout his racing career, first as a driver, then a master mechanic, he was the brains behind the success of a cross-section of drivers, past and present, including champion drivers, such as David Summerbell, Gary ‘The Colonel’ Gregg, his son Kyle, Jeff Panton and Alan Chen. Gregg, in 2007, and Panton are both winners of the Caribbean’s premier motoring event, Sol Rally Barbados, organised by the Barbados Rally Club (BRC).
Moodie was also responsible for the exploits of his children, who followed him into the sport as drivers as well as mechanics, along with the success of young kart drivers such as Fraser McConnell, Collin Daley Jr, Jonathan Law and William Myers. Spanning several decades, Moodie’s racing accolades are numerous, as he was always the “man to beat” in any competition he entered, whether it was circuit racing, rallying, sprints, dexterity tests or karting. The Jamaica Millennium Motoring Club (JMMC) in its tribute to the family and friends of the automotive and motorsport icon, said ‘his stern, but always fair and by-the-rules approach’, provided an outstanding example to his fellow competitors to follow and to always be at their best, especially when competing against him. Although he had hung up his racing gloves for more than a decade, Moodie con-
tinued to be a positive impact on motor racing in Jamaica and the Caribbean. His dedication and hard work was evident at the Palisadoes International Raceway, Kingston, when his proteges made clean sweeps in go-karting. Undoubtedly, one of Jamaica's most successful mechanics and motor racing drivers, he once said it was his belief that Jamaica is truly a talented country in every sporting discipline, especially in go-kart racing in which some of the young karters are doing very well in Florida. “It is really amazing when you look at our karters with limited resources, compared with our counterparts on the Florida circuit, and see how the Jamaicans have been performing,"Moodie noted. The JMMC in their message of condolence on his passing said, “he was a true icon and a legend of Jamaican and Caribbean motor sport, may he Rest In Peace”.
‘Jacko’ Moodie at the Dover Raceway, Jamaica with his son Peter (Jr) in photo at top; giving last minute startline advice to William Myers and Collin Daley (Jr) and with his son Garth, in photo at right.(Photographic collage complements Donovan Montague/Auto Capture.
MOTORING NEWS MARCH - JUNE 2021
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Game changer coming from Toyota ʻThe technology is a potential cure-all for the drawbacks facing electric vehicles’
A trip of 500 km on one charge. A recharge from zero to full in 10 minutes. All with minimal safety concerns. The solid-state battery being introduced by Toyota promises to be a game changer not just for electric vehicles but for an entire industry. The technology is a potential cure-all for the drawbacks facing electric vehicles that run on conventional lithium-ion batteries, including the relatively short distance traveled on a single charge as well as charging times. Toyota plans to be the first company to sell an electric vehicle equipped with a solid-state battery in the early 2020s. The electric vehicles being developed by Toyota will have a range more than twice the distance of a vehicle running on a conventional lithium-ion battery under the same conditions. All accomplished without sacrificing interior space in even the most compact vehicle. Solid-state batteries are expected to become a viable alternative to lithium-ion
batteries that use aqueous electrolyte solutions. The innovation would lower the risk of fires, and multiply energy density, which measures the energy a battery can deliver compared with its weight. It would take roughly 10 minutes to charge an electric vehicle equipped with a solid-state battery, cutting the recharging time by twothirds. The battery can extend the driving distance of a compact electric vehicle while maintaining legroom. Toyota stands at the top of the global heap with over 1,000 patents involving solid-state batteries. Nissan Motor plans to develop its own solid-state battery which will power a nonsimulation vehicle by 2028. The shift toward the new battery technology will also have an effect on companies further down the supply chain. Japanese auto materials makers are rushing to set up the necessary infrastructure to supply automakers. Mitsui Mining and Smelting, commonly known
as Mitsui Kinzoku, will start up a pilot facility that will make solid electrolytes for
the batteries. The production site, located at a research and develop-
The Japanese firms Toyota and Subaru are already preparing the new generation of their 2022 Toyota GT86 and 2022 BRZ models that, in Toyota’s words, will be a ‘baby Supra’. It also plans to change its name and its presentation is expected in summer of this year. What things can change in just a few years. At the beginning of the 21st century, Toyota was a brand with a catalog that highlighted the total absence of sports cars. Something inexplicable for the first world manufacturer to have sports such as the MR2, the AE86 Trueno or the Supra himself. But since 2012, things changed their course with the arrival of the Toyota GT86, a vehicle that shared development with Subaru
and that in this case receives the name of BRZ. This was followed by the Toyota GR Supra and, more recently, the Toyota GR Yaris . And what about the second generation GT86? The first lines began to appear months ago. It promises, and a lot. The first thing is
that Toyota is going to change the name of the Toyota GT86. At first, everything pointed to the fact that the new sports cars of the firm carry the letters GR, it would be called Toyota GR86. However, the leaks of some records show that Toyota has registered the name BZ,
an acronym very similar to BRZ, perhaps with visas for both models to share nomenclature. Be that as it may, the Japanese sports car will once again share a platform with the Subaru, and not only that, but it will once again be practically a copy of the first.
The True Start battery being developed by Toyota will have a range more than twice the distance of a vehicle running on a conventional lithium-ion battery.
Summer roll out for new generation Toyota GR86, Subaru BRZ
The new 2022 Toyota GT86. It will be a ‘baby Supra’.
ment center in Saitama Prefecture, will be able to produce dozens of tons of solid electrolyte annually staring this year, enough to fulfill orders for prototypes. Oil company Idemitsu Kosan is installing solid electrolyte production equipment at its Chiba Prefecture site with the aim of beginning operation this year. Manufacturing solid electrolytes requires solidifying sulfides, which is a specialty of the metal and chemical industry. Sumitomo Chemical is developing material as well. Japanese manufacturers like Sony and Panasonic have been pioneers in commercializing battery cells for vehicles. But since the late 2000s, Chinese rivals have emerged to prominence. Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited, also known as CATL, is now the world's largest supplier of lithium ion batteries. Japan's Asahi Kasei, once the global leader in battery separator material, gave up the crown last year to Shanghai Energy. Electric vehicles are antici-
pated to become commonplace amid the global shift away from carbon. The Japanese government has been encouraging the domestic development of solid-state batteries, under the outlook that most of the technology relating to automotive performance will depend on China if the status quo holds. The government is putting together a fund of about 2 trillion yen ($19.2 billion) that will support decarbonization technology. Policymakers will consider using those funds to provide subsidies of hundreds of billions of yen that will fund the development of the new batteries. The goal is to support the development of a mass-production infrastructure within Japan. Because solid-state batteries use lithium, an element with limited global reserves, the government will assist in procuring the material. The rest of the world is following suit. Germany's Volkswagen plans to have production running for solid-state batteries as soon as 2025 via a joint-venture with a U.S. startup.
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MOTORING NEWS MARCH - JUNE 2021
Hyundai’s Ioniq 5: One gorgeous EV from Korea
The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5. The crossover arrives with a choice of either a 58- or 72.6-kWh battery pack.
The production-ready 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 is here. Evoking the spirit of Hyundai's very first production car – the 1975 Pony – the Ioniq 5 has finally arrived in production form. It's not the small hatchback with Mitsubishi engines from the early days of the Korean brand as they are presenting a midsize SUV developed from the ground up as an electric car. It inaugurates the E-GMP platform and is the production equivalent of the 45 Concept from the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show. This is roundly one of the most significant new Hyundais we've seen since the 2011 redesign of the Sonata, a car that ushered in a new era for Hyundai/Kia design and inarguably elevated the Korean manufacturer onto the same playing field of Toyota and Honda. With the Ioniq 5, Hyundai is now a step beyond its
Japanese competitors on the EV front, too. The crossover arrives with a choice of either a 58- or 72.6-kWh battery pack, and a further choice of either a single rear-mounted motor driving the rear wheels or a dual front-and-rear motor setup affording all-wheel drive. In its most potent powertrain combination—dual motors, the 72.6-kWh battery—the Ioniq 5 scoots around with a combined 301 hp and 446 lb-ft, allowing for mostly-silent runs from zero to 62 mph in a quick 5.2 seconds. Keep the big battery but ditch the front motor, and that output drops to a more than reasonable 214 hp and 258 lb-ft, and the 0-62 mph time extends to 7.4 seconds. With the smaller battery, the dual-motor setup spins out a combined 232 hp and 446 lb-ft for a 6.1-second 062 mph run. In the lowliest (and presumably most
affordable) configuration, the single-motor, rearwheel-drive, standard battery Ioniq 5's power is unchanged over the big-battery's 214 hp and 258 lb-ft, though 0-62 mph is the slowest at a still-reasonable 8.5 seconds. Regardless of how you spec it, the Ioniq 5 tops out at 115 mph. At the moment, Hyundai's only talking range for the specific configuration of the 72.6 kWh battery and single rear motor, claiming an impressive WLTP-rated range of between 292 and 298 miles. Expect the official EPA range to differ in the U.S. Here's a neat little tidbit—if you do happen to brick your Ioniq 5 on an over-enthusiastic impromptu road trip, an optional solar roof panel can trickle charge the car for some extra range, giving you a shot at reaching a charger. That's only for emergencies and a small passive
charge—how the Hyundai performs at the plug is what matters. Crucially, the Ioniq 5 supports both 400-volt and 800-volt charging as standard without the need for plug adaptors, and both levels are packaged in as standard. On a 350-kW charger, the battery can be charged from 10- to 80-percent in just 18 minutes—in an ideal environment, of course.
According to Hyundai and WLTP, it takes just five minutes to suck down enough electrons for 62 miles of range. Once on the move, drivers can use the Ioniq 5 as a large mobile battery pack, with built-in vehicle-to-load function that charges smaller stuff like electric bicycles, scooters, and a number of other things, including camping gear.
Frankly, this compact crossover is one of most intriguing new EVs in production, based on styling and aesthetics alone; with its angular, scalloped bodywork and the retrofuturistic Alfa Romeo SZ-aping front grille, the Ioniq 5 is a bright paint job away from being carjacked by some cybernetically-modified criminal in the Cyberpunk 2077 video game.
Six new EVs coming from Mercedes
An electric electric offensive is coming luxury automaker Mercedes. And the company says that six new EVs will join its range in the next few years. The models, which will all wear the ‘EQ’ nameplate that Mercedes reserves for its EVs and plug-in hybrids, will join the EQC SUV and EQV, which are both already available. Heading up the new Mercedes electric range will be the EQS, which will be available as both a saloon and SUV. Set to offer a similar footprint and levels of luxury to the brand’s flagship S-Class, the EQS will be the first Mercedes EV to sit on a dedicated electric platform, rather than an existing one. It’s set to offer bold styling and impressive levels of spaciousness thanks to the bespoke platform, and will offer a range of up 435 miles, which is longer than any other electric car on sale today. “The EQS has already piled up far more than two million test kilometres from the heat of South Africa to the cold of Northern Sweden. The EQS will be the S-Class of electric vehicles.
Tanak kick starts season with victory in Finland MOTORING NEWS MARCH - JUNE 2021
Finland's Arctic Rally, drafted in at the last minute to replace Rally Sweden as the second round of this year's World Rally Championship, allowed Hyundai star Ott Tanak to kick-start his 2021 season with an assured win after scoring no points in the opener in Monte Carlo. With Sweden abandoned in the face of a dramatic increase in the number of coronavirus cases this winter, the WRC grabbed this opportunity to move north into the Arctic Circle, with the promise of snow. The pre-event form book tilted strongly towards Toyota being the dominant force. For one thing, the team is Finnish to its core. For another, the team's young star Kalle Rovanpera won the event in 2020. You could also add that the team's talent manager, former Intercontinental Rally Challenge winner Juho Hanninen, won the event in its traditional January slot on the domestic calendar at the wheel of a Yaris WRC. And let's not forget that Toyota's rivals at Hyundai and M-Sport were left in shell-shocked disarray after the opening round, where Yarises filled four of the top six places on the Monte. One member of the Toyota squad who did not hold such high expectations was Monte Carlo winner Sebastien Ogier. The Frenchman knew that the honour of running first on the road for Day 1 would result in him sweeping the roads for those behind him, and that when the road order was swapped for Day 2, with the slowest going first, he would likely still be clearing a path for the rest. "For me the question mark
is always going to be being first on the road on that one," he said before the start. "I need to pick up a better start position for the rest of the event and that's the plan for tomorrow, to try to give everything from the start." The first day was always going to be tricky for Ogier from that perspective. It consisted of a single stage, Sarriojarvi, run once in the afternoon sun and once after dark. At 19 miles it was one of the longest stages on the rally, starting with tight and technical turns and then heading out onto long, undulating straights. After the second pass the gap to rally leader Tanak, winner of both stages, was a thumping 49.8s. "We'll see what we can do tomorrow, but it looks like we will be quite far away already," Ogier concluded. Tanak had meanwhile built up a decent cushion of 16.2s over his Hyundai team-mate Craig Breen, the Irishman making his first WRC appearance since last September's Rally Estonia. Rovanpera sat in third, with Thierry Neuville making it three Hyundais in the top four. Being slightly larger than the Yaris, all of the i20 WRCs showed battle damage at the rear as they tended to clip the snow banks rather more often, but of rather more importance was
Buckle Up; Wear your Seatbelts
that they were clearly able to take less life out of their tyres than the Toyotas.
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Hyundai star Ott Tanak kick-started his 2021 season by winning Rally Finland.
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MOTORING NEWS MARCH - JUNE 2021
Industry News...
No WRC event in UK this year The head of the World Rally Championship is "sad" the series will not get the chance to visit Northern Ireland in 2021, with Rally Ypres confirmed as taking its place. Jona Siebel made the comment after confirming the UK had lost its place on this year's WRC calendar to the Ypres Rally, marking Belgium's first WRC round. The Ypres Rally will go ahead in August, although a date for the Belgian tarmac classic has yet to be confirmed. It was added to 2020's heavily revised WRC calendar but had to be shelved a month before it was set to
go ahead following a significant spike in the number of coronavirus cases in the country. "Ypres has been a hugely popular cornerstone of European rallying for more than half a century," said Siebel. Its elevation to the WRC will provide one of the season's sternest challenges and I'm delighted the championship will finally visit Belgium after last year's unfortunate delay. "Its tricky mix of narrow asphalt lanes with big ditches lining the roads, allied with some stages in the dark and the potential for mixed weather, will provide plenty of thrills and spills for
fans." Northern Ireland looked in line to stage Britain's round after Wales took a step back - but promoters struggled to convince Tourism Northern Ireland it represented good value for money. Those familiar with the business case - which was initially rejected by Tourism Northern Ireland last April before a new one was submitted six months later - put the cost of running such an event at £2m. It means that for the second consecutive season, rallying's top flight will go ahead without a scoring round in the United Kingdom.
New MG EV will be similar in size to manufacturer’s MG4 hatchback The forthcoming MG electric hatchback could make use of the same powertrain as the ZS EV, however, the manufacturer might reduce the battery capacity due to cost and available space MG Motor is reportedly working on launching a fully electric hatchback by the end of this year, and the said car will be one of the two fully electric models that are currently in the Chinese-owned British carmaker’s pipeline. According to a report by Autocar, UK, the new EV will be similar in size to the manufacturer’s MG3 hatchback. However, the EV will not serve as a replacement for the MG3, and the internal combustion hatchback will continue to serve as an affordable offering from MG. The electric hatch could make use of the same battery and powertrain technology from the brand’s current EVs such as the ZS electric SUV, that is currently also on sale in the Indian market. However, MG could reduce the battery capacity of the hatch in order to keep the costs in check. The India-spec ZS EV’s gets a Permanent-magnet Synchronous Motor which drives its front wheels via a single-speed auto gearbox, and has a peak power rating of at 143 PS, and a max torque rating of 353 Nm. MG3-1 The upcoming MG electric hatchback could be priced significantly less than the cars it would go up against including the likes of Honda e and Mini Electric. In the United Kingdom, MG could price it around £20,000, which translates to Rs 19.91 lakh in Indian currency. For reference, the ZS EV in UK starts from £23,700 before taxes, which converts to around Rs 23.60 lakh. On the other hand, the India-spec ZS EV has a starting price of Rs 20.88 lakh, while the top-end trim will set you back by Rs 23.58 lakh (both prices, ex-showroom). It comes equipped with a 44.5 kWh battery that can be charged up to 80% in approximately 40 minutes with a 50 kW DC fast charger. However, a 7.4 kW charger will take up to 7 hours to fully charge the ZS EV’s battery. On a full charge, the ZS EV provides an ARAI certified range of 340 km. The ZS EV puts up against the Hyundai Kona Electric in the Indian market.
Let’s all keep Barbados clean
No celebrations of this kind will take place in the UK this year.
MOTORING NEWS MARCH - JUNE 2021
Page 21
Industry News...
RallySprint champion Ian ‘WeeWee’ Warren is working on updates to the Vaucluse Raceway for today’s RallyChase event at the St. Thomas (Picture by treVor Thorpe)
RallyChase to open 2021 motoring season
A new format will be introduced in motorsport at the Vaucluse Raceway April 10. It will be a RallyChase at the St. Thomas facility, somewhat reminiscent of the SuperSprint series at Bushy Park in the early 90s. It will get the attention of drivers starting at noon. Track preparation expert and defending RallySprint champion Ian ‘WeeWee’ Warren is working on updates to the circuit and is using this event to test a new course. A no-spectator event, Vaucluse Raceway Motorsport Club (VR-MSC) president Ryan Wood said:
“I think by now everyone knows we have the most social group of competitors Barbados has seen for decades. Notwithstanding the simple fun we have in each-others’ company, our group is extremely helpful, flexible, well-informed about club activities and very easy to mobilise on short notice. When the Barbados Government issued its latest COVID directive on March 26th to include motor sport, we sprung into action immediately to get this event going”. “Competition Secretary Greg Cozier is setting up
the event differently from any we have done before; also easy to do due to our members’ extensive experience in RallyCross, RallySprint and Stage Rally events. No spectators are allowed but, despite that, we’ll get some much needed competition time and have another great day out,” the president noted. Each driver will get three attempts in one direction, starting each time in different groups and different order, then the course will be reversed for three more. The winner of the competition will have an aggregate time of his best time in each
direction. Not only will this be the first motor sport event this year but it will also serve as Rounds One and Two of the 2021 BimmaCup BB Championship so much will be at stake. According to club secretary Greg ‘Hotty’ Cozier; we’ve coined a new event description in Barbados motor sport, although the idea dates back to the
SuperSprint series at Bushy Park. We’re calling it a RallyChase event. Randomly selected groups of five cars will line up abreast and start at five second intervals to complete four laps of a 1.5Km course. There may be some catching and some passing but obviously Vaucluse Raceway is a regulation 11m wide RallyCross circuit and our members are sea-
soned racers so they should be well-entertained”. No spectators will be allowed and all COVID-19 protocols will be in effect including mandatory masks, hand sanitising, temperature checks and contact tracing. Entrance for competitors, service crew, marshals and officials will be through the south pits gate only.
Page 22
MOTORING NEWS MARCH - JUNE 2021
F1 News ....
F1 champion Lewis Hamilton jumps for joy after winning the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Hamilton wins nail-biting Bahrain Grand Prix
Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton won a nail-biting Bahrain Grand Prix season opener, triumphing over the Red Bull of Max Verstappen in a fantastic duel in the desert that went down to the very last lap of the race, as the second Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas completed the podium. Starting from the fourth pole position of his career, Verstappen had taken control of the race early on, but lost his advantage when Hamilton was able to undercut the Dutchman into the lead in the first round of pit stops. Following a second stop for both drivers – Verstappen’s coming 10 laps after Hamilton’s – a thrilling finale was set up, Verstappen eating into Hamilton’s lead before attempting a pass on Lap 53 but running too wide and giving the place back. That would be Verstappen’s last opportunity, with Hamilton able to hold on until the flag to take his
96th career win by less than a second – while Hamilton also passed Michael Schumacher’s record of 5,111 for the most laps led in F1 history. Behind the duelling lead pair, Bottas finished a distant third after a late stop to successfully gain the fastest lap bonus point, while Lando Norris equalled his result from the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix with a fantastic drive to fourth for McLaren. After a formation lap issue that forced him to start from the pit lane, Sergio Perez recovered to fifth on his debut for Red Bull, ahead of the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc and the second McLaren of Daniel Ricciardo. It was the second Ferrari of Carlos Sainz who took eighth, ahead of rookie Yuki Tsunoda in ninth, while Lance Stroll gave Aston Martin points on their return to F1 with P10. So, it was disappointment
for Verstappen and glory for reigning champion Hamilton at round one – but after a thrilling battle, it looks like we’ve definitely got a tight struggle for supremacy in 2021 between Red Bull and Mercedes on our hands. Sergio Perez gave Red Bull a heart-in-their-mouths moment even before the race had begun, his Red Bull RB16B pulling up on the formation lap with an issue. Perez – who, like Pierre Gasly, had taken a new control electronics and energy store on his car before the race – was able to get the RB16B going and take up position at the end of the pit lane to take the race start, as the grid were forced into a second formation lap. When the five red lights on the Bahrain International Circuit gantry were eventually extinguished and the 2021 season got under way, all eyes were fixed on how the sister Red Bull of Max Verstappen on
pole would fare against the menacing black Mercedes W12s of Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas starting alongside and astern of him. Very well, as it turned out. Verstappen smoothly covered off the threat from Hamilton, to hold the lead going through Turn 1, with Bottas coming under attack from the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc starting P4, Leclerc eventually getting ahead of the Finn before a Safety Car was called into action. That was because of Nikita Mazepin, who’d spun his Haas coming out of Turn 3 and smashed into the wall – an inauspicious, but fortunately non-serious, way to conclude his F1 debut.
Safety first, wear your seatbelt
Auto & Commercial Guide
MOTORING NEWS MARCH - JUNE 2021
Page 23
Days of Motorsport
Date
Event
Venue
Barbados Rally Club Aug. 21 & 22 Sept. 19
Doubleheader with MCBI King of the Hill
TBA
Motoring Club B’dos Inc Aug. 21 & 22
Doubleheader with BRC B‘dos Auto Racing League
Oct. 31
Race Meet
Bushy Park
MudDogs Safari Championship June 27 -
Shelbury June Safari
Islandwide
Barbados Karting Association
For Sale
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Karting Race Day
Bushy Park
B’dos Association of Dragsters & Drifters Oct 3
Drag Racing
Bushy Park
Bushy Park Motor Sport Inc Oct 10
Race Meet
Bushy Park
Vaucluse Motorsport Raceway Club
Call 424-4798
Digital maps of Barbados for Garmin GPS receivers. Available from Atlantic Computers.
The Courtesy Garage RPM Report Wednesdays at 12:45 pm only on 98.1 The One.
Nov 7
April 10 June 12 Nov 27/28
Rally Chase Vaucluse Raceway RallySprint (VRMSC) – Vaucluse Raceway Rallycross (VRMSC) – Vaucluse Raceway
Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Car Club Nov. 14
Int. race meet
Temeri
NACAM Rally Championship 2020 Nov 27/28
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MARCH - JUNE 2021
Page 24
Former British F4 champion and ex-Euroformula racer Zane Maloney racing with the French team R-ace GP this season.(Picture by Embrey Photography)
Maloney now with R-ace GP
Zane Maloney will drive for R-ace GP for his third season in single-seater racing. The 17-year-old former British Formula 4 champion and a podium finisher in EuroFormula Open, both with Carlin Motorsport, made the transition to the Formula Regional European Championship (FREC) by Alpine for 2021 and completed winter testing in subzero temperatures at
Silverstone last week. Now home on a two week winter break, Maloney said he is very please to announce the partnership with R-ace GP, a team that has won two of the last three championships and has always been a front-running team and he could hardly wait for this next step in his career and to bring home more trophies to Barbados.
“I was testing at Silverstone in the company of two Formula 1 drivers and was able to be on the pace with them and I am please with how things went and I can’t wait for the season to get started”, he added. Maloney won ten races in his first season of racing in 2019 and took the British Formula 4 title, but suffered mechanical problems last
Published by Motoring News, 3 Tranquility Drive, Green Point, St. Philip, Barbados,West Indies:
year which dropped him down to eighth place in the EuroFormula Open standings, but was still good enough to pick up two podium finishes at the Hungaroring and Circuit Paul Ricard He had high praise for his family and his sponsors Rock Hard Cement, Bushy Park Barbados, Alpine Stars and RBC and said he is looking forward for the start
Tel. (246) 823-1117
of the season and the end to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine is a new series formed through a merger with Formula Renault Eurocup and R-ace GP is the first team to make use of the waiver on three-car limits and has committed to a regulation that limits all teams to three entries per round unless the fourth car
is taken up by a female driver. Lena Buhler has been named as the female driver, joining 2019 British F4 champion and exEuroformula racer Zane Maloney, Asian F3-experienced French F4 graduate Isack Hadjar and former Renault Formula 1 junior and 2019 French F4 champion, Hadrien David.
(E-mail: motoringnews34@gmail.com)