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Mighty Muscles
BMW’s X5 and x6 M’s
BMW M POWER: MIGHTY MUSCLES! /// LAND ROVER REDEFINES THE SUVS /// WHAT’S THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CAR OF ALL TIME?
Citroen tests hybrid powered C4 WRC /// Sasol Rally will be Toyota vs Volkswagen! /// Toyota Motorsport win in F1 Court of Appeal!
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Issue 6 - APRIL 2009
INSIDE THIS WEEK’S ISSUE:
06 Volkswagen Golf VI GTD unveiled!
08 Citroen DS: 10 M Power for world’s prettiest! BMW’s X5 and X6
12 WET PAINT 14 LEGENDS 16 NEW DAWN
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2009 CAR OF THE YEAR WINNER
Bridgestone Production Car Championship WRC : Cyprus to challenge even Loeb!
HONDA ACCORD
The birth of Brawn GP
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Who’s the boss: Triple Performance Shootout
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This weeks Motorsport News - Adenco 400 // Jon Williams tests EVO X // Audi wins at Sebring // F1 Australia Preivew // Glock on two wheels // Kyalami Preview Charl Wilken worries Top S2000 Teams // Visser du Plessis Speaks // Castrol Toyota Rally Team News // Gronholm’s Subaru Ready to GO!
Audi’s big hitter // Mazda’s new best seller // Honda’s S2000 say goodbye // Be like Loeb // more...
Porsche Cayenne Diesel // New Kia Sorento // SsangYong Defines CUV // Merc’s E63 AMG // more... big motorsport edition : W Rc 0 - LOeb 4 // team sasol shine in cape // prodrive turns 25
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NRC
Gemmel The wins Natal “LOEB SHOW” Rally
preview Rally Chicks Up A Gear
Brawn GP Leads Testing
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Lategan joins Castrol Toyota
ProMotor - Exclusive interview with Rautenbach
Issue 4 - APRIL 2009
Fierce racing in Production Cars
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Issue 5 - A P RIL 2009
18 Citroen C4 WRC Hybrid4 tested!
20 A1GP Portugal race review
21 Eastern Cape 400 preview
24 Sasol Rally preview 26 Toyota F1 win in Court of Appeal
Editors Evan Rothman evanrothman@gmail.com 083 452 6892 Anton Wannenburg anton@promotor.co.za 082 929 6120
Contributors Motorpics HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS Newspress Quickpic
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ISSUE 06
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big motorsport edition : W Rc 0 - LOeb 4 // team sasol shine in cape // prodrive turns 25
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s e k a r b d Han &Hairpins world of e th to in t h ig s in r u o y
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HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS. Your FREE source of all things rallying: the latest news from around the world; award-winning photography; insightful columnists; in-depth feature articles; and, all event previews and reviews. HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS is a weekly e-magazine. Distributed via e-mail and available for download from several websites, this fast-growing publication is created as a .PDF document for easy distribution and high-quality resolution. Contact Evan Rothman at 083 452 6892 or via evanrothman@gmail.com for your FREE subscription.
FEATURE 06:Volkswagen Golf VI GTD/08:Citroen DS/10:New BMW M models/
If you’re a regular reader of ProMotor (and if you’re not, you’d better sign up to this FREE eMagazine by either registering on www.promotor. co.za or by sms “Promotor” and your e-mail address to 34599), you’d have read in Issue 03 about the Volkswagen Golf VI GTI. Well, the Germans have unveiled its sister model, the diesel-powered Golf GTD, WRITES EVAN ROTHMAN. The gents in white coats used their knowledge and experience gained from developing the latest generation GTI to create the GTD. This diesel diva boasts the same sharp handling responses and agile chassis dynamics to complement the meaty 2,0-litre powerplant under the hood. With the ability to accelerate from standstill to 100km/h in a quick 8,1 seconds and reach a top
Das neue GTD: Sehr Schnell!
ProMotor Issue 06 - Page 06
speed of 217km/h. All the while, even with a heavy right foot, the car is able to run for over 1000km on a single tank of your favourite diesel. Yes, this is the flavour of the moment in Europe, and should it reach our shores it will be an exciting and thrilling car to own! The 1 968cc common rail TDI engine produces 170PS, driving the front wheels via your choice of either a six-speed manual gearbox or a DSG, I think this Golf VI would be my pick of the bunch. Like other diesel engines in Volkswagen’s line-up this one will be frugal and efficient, yet punchy.
FEATURE
Volkswagen lowered the suspension of the GTD by 15mm when compared to the standard Golf VI. It features the innovative Adaptive Chassis Control (ACC) system from the GTI, which has pneumatically controlled damper units. This system allows the driver to select from “Normal”, “Sport” or “Comfort” modes to define the desired suspension, steering and accelerator responses for any particular drive.
From a styling point of view, the GTD appears wider in stance than that of standard Golf VIs. The front end, like the GTI, features honeycomb grille detailing, a GTD badge on the grille with chrome accents. The rear end features full body-coloured bumpers, and the wheels are now 17-inch alloys to enhance its sporty flair. Inside the cabin, a flat-bottomed steering wheel (with GTD decal), a GTD gear knob and a standard trim interior welcomes the driver and lucky passengers. As with the entire Golf range, the new GTD will also boasts class-leading levels of safety with ABS, ESP (Electronic Stabilisation Programme) and seven airbags, including for the first time a knee airbag, all as standard equipment. The Golf was recently awarded a maximum five-star rating by the EuroNCAP crash testing agency.
ProMotor Issue 06 - Page 07
FEATURE
WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CAR OF ALL TIME? This is most certainly a question that results in a bar-room brawl. Every person has their favourite, their dream car, the car that for them is the most beautiful of all time. So, when a panel of international car designers are locked in a windowless room for a few days to debate the question, what do you think was their verdict: a multi-million Rand Porsche, a rare Ferrari or the handsome Jaguar E-Type? Nope, it was the humble Citroen DS, the car most famous for saving former French President De Gaulle from assassination.
ProMotor Issue 06 - Page 08
It is an odd choice, in my books, as there are other beautiful cars I feel more deserving of this honour. It was the highly-respected Classic & Sports Car magazine that polled a
FEATURE jury of designers that included Giorgetto Giugiaro (he created the Maserati Bora, Volkswagen Golf, Fiat Panda and Lotus Esprit) and Ian Callum (responsible for the Jaguar XF). The top 10 cars
were: 1. Citroen DS 2= Jaguar XK120 2= Ferrari 275GTB 4= Cord 810/812 4= Ferrari 250GT Lusso 4= Ferrari 250GT Short-wheelbase 4= Jaguar E-type 4= Lamborghini Miura 4= Lotus Elan 4= Lotus Elite (1957) James Elliott, editor of Classic & Sports Car, said: “The Citroen is a benchmark design, but we were still astonished that it came out on top when you look at the sexiness – and values – of some of its rivals. Apart from the Mini, it’s by far the most affordable car to get any nominations at all, which probably means it’s a great investment! “Petrolheads everywhere are forever arguing about the most beautiful cars and we hope that this will put an end to the debate once and for all, though we suspect that it might just be lighting a rocket under it. I don’t think anyone has ever asked this many great designers what their views are, so who better to pick the official winner… even if they all missed my favourite, the Alfa Romeo T33 Stradale?” “It’s great to see the iconic DS getting such recognition amongst such an august group of car designers, and with the amazing news that a new DS range from Citroen will appear over the next few years, it’s clear we have lost none of our styling panache or instinct for innovation,” commented Citroen spokesperson Marc Raven on hearing the news. What they said about the Citroen DS: Giorgetto Giugiaro: “The only example of a car really conceived ‘outside the box’. It is just impossible to imitate.” Leonardo Fioravanti (former Pininfarina design chief and the man behind Ferrari’s Daytona, Dino and 308GTB): “A real road car that, at its time and perhaps still now, has represented the ‘dream’ in its extreme progress.” Peter Stevens (British great responsible for the McLaren F1 and second-generation Lotus Esprit): “I have always considered the fact that this car was first drawn in 1955 to be extraordinary.” Marcello Gandini (Bertone stalwart responsible for Lancia Stratos and Lamborghini Countach among many others): “At the time I think it was complete folly, madness from a business and industrial point of view… but it was a really innovative car in 1955. A few people may have thought of all those beautiful ideas, but it was real bravery to implement all of them in one car.” - SUPPLIED BY NEWSPRESS
ProMotor Issue 06 - Page 09
FEATURE
ProMotor Issue 06 - Page 10
: R E W LES! O P C M a S o U W t on e M BM HTY M e g d th a : b G y I M e M ing plo , most h t s t t
FEATURE
tick marke fastes cars.” s W ot a e M h W t B M r n n B o e f s f “Whicle, it i served usive o veh ge is re nd excl bad erful a pow BMW have never stood back for a challenge. This German motoring giant is renowned for pushing back automotive boundaries, and the latest examples of this are the new BMW X5 M and X6 M, two new models to the marque’s SUV range that aims to set a new class benchmark, WRITES EVAN ROTHMAN.
drives the power and masses of torque to the four wheels. As with the rest of the X5 M and X6 M, the auto box has also been fettled with to enhance performance: an electronic management system allows the driver to select between three driving modes to suit his/her mood and driving conditions.
The X5 and X6 are, of course, BMW’s only fourwheel drive models, and with the addition of the M-badge on the rear tailgate, you will be correct in guessing that these respective models are mightily powerful and dynamically capable vehicles.
Enhancing the package even further is the addition of the Dynamic Performance Control on both vehicles. This system is a new style of differential that first appeared on the BMW X6, which diverts power to the driven wheels rather than brakes the spinning wheel. Its working thresholds on the X5 M and X6 M have been tweaked to permit for greater cornering capability!
To boot, the X5 M and X6 M are equipped with an earth-moving twin-turbocharged 555hp V8 petrol engine that is the company’s most powerful road-going M car ever… This is a journey into new territory for BMW, and it is rocketing into uncharted territory! When BMW sticks the M badge onto a vehicle, it is not a marketing ploy: the M badge is reserved for the fastest, most powerful and exclusive of BMW cars. Previous M models have become not only class leaders in terms of performance and driveability, but also instant icons in the motoring world for their innovative technology. Both new M models are powered by the same 4 395cc twin turbocharged V8 petrol engine. It is worth mentioning again that this powerplant produces a whopping 555hp at 6 000rpm and 680Nm of torque from 1 500rpm. If you like your figures, then these will most certainly please you: 0-100km/h takes only 4,7seconds! This is in the same league as the BMW M3... The BMW engineers have positioned both the turbochargers and the catalytic converter within the “vee” of the V8 motor, which is a first for an M badged vehicle and also boosts the performance of the engine to new levels. This arrangement, BMW tells us, results in an “engine that breathes better and operates at a higher efficiency due to the shorter exit manifold.” The 4,4-litre motor also features High Precision Direct Injection technology with piezo crystals to optimise fuel efficiency and combustion characteristics. A six-speed M Sport automatic transmission
Befitting BMW’s environmentally-friendly drive, the X5 M and X6 M are fitted as standard with BMW’s EfficientDynamics programme. Let’s not forget the M button on the steering wheel. Here the driver can further fine-tune his preferences for the electronic damper control system, the heads-up display, the dynamic stability control system and the sensitivity of the Servotronic steering system. The exterior and interior design highlights the X5 M and X6 M’s performance intentions. A number of key M design traits can be drooled over: the 20-inch light alloy wheels featuring differently sized tyres front to rear, M badged side gills on the front wings and quad exhaust pipes. The bodywork is not only cosmetic, but forms an aerodynamic function too as the rear end features a revised rear valance to ensure the exiting airflow leaves the vehicles with the minimum of fuss. This theme is carried through to the interior, which is as luxuriously appointed as you’d expect. The full leather interior is complemented by M Sports seats, M leather steering wheel, M footrest, M badged instrument dials and gear lever. The X5 M and X6 M are, as you’ve read, brutally powerful. Intimidating? Luxurious? Distinctive? And, exclusive? Yes, yes, yes yes! The Beemer Boys have produced two cars more than deserving of wearing the M badges proudly.
ProMotor Issue 06 - Page 11
WET PAINT 12:Toyota Urban Cruiser/13:Land Rover Discovery 4 and Range Rover Sport/ WORDS: EVAN ROTHMAN There is a great new model in the European Toyota model line-up that ProMotor had to bring to your attention. Called the Urban Cruiser, this four-wheel drive B-segment hatchback crossover is now equipped with Toyota’s Optimal Drive powertrain system. This advanced powertrain design and engineering makes the Urban Cruiser’s engines more powerful, yet at the same time being more fuel efficient and less polluting. In fact, it achieves a remarkably low CO2 figure of 130g/km for the 1,4-litre D-4D AWD variant. A six-speed manual transmission is mated to the engines. With expected Toyota reliability and
quality levels, the gear changes from this new gearbox are quiet and smooth, and the wide sixth gear ratio helps the powertrain achieve a classleading fuel economy and efficiency. With more and more eco-friendly models from coming out of Toyota, even their manufacturing plants are among the most environmentally advanced in the world and often use solar power for heating and cooling. They are striving for a “zero waste to landfill” policy. Toyota has also cut the quantity of harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) used in the Urban Cruiser’s interior parts, and use acrylic-based materials for the undercoating in place of polyvinyl chloride.
FOR TOMORROW, TODAY!
ProMotor Issue 06 - Page 12
WET PAINT
LAND ROVER REDEFINES THE SUVS. AGAIN! Here is the just-been-unveiled Land Rover Discovery 4 and the 2010 model year Range Rover Sport. The company has introduced two new engines for 2010, following a joint development programme with Jaguar. The LRTDV6 3,0-litre diesel powerplant and LR-V8 Supercharged petrol engine reportedly set new benchmarks for performance and economy, boasting substantial increases in power and torque over their predecessors as well as lower emissions and reduced fuel consumption. The new LR-TDV6 3,0-litre diesel engine improves on the already impressive 2,7-litre diesel unit by 29 percent in power gains and 36 percent in torque. It is also offers a nine percent improvement in fuel economy and reduction in C02 emissions over the 2,7-litre V6 mill. Land Rover’s LR-V8 Supercharged petrol engine is no less impressive, packed with innovative technical features enabling it to match supreme performance with extreme efficiency. Power and torque is considerably improved over the existing V8 supercharged petrol engine. For example, as fitted to the Range Rover Sport the new 5.0litre supercharged engine produces 29 percent more power and 12 percent more torque than the outgoing 4,2-litre engine, yet CO2 emissions and fuel consumption are improved by 5,6 percent and 6,2 percent respectively. A new “adaptive dynamics system” for Range Rover Sport (and Range Rover) is the world’s first production system using model-based predictive technology to continually optimise the settings of DampTronic Valve Technology damper units, optimising body ride and control. Futhermore, refinements to the understeer control
on all models offer the driver more control and response. A “Roll Stability Control” system will implement wheel-specific braking if an imminent rollover is detected, and adaptive cruise control is also fitted as standard. Improvements to the already highly-acclaimed “Terrain Response” system means that the driver has more control in the rock crawl programme as it reduces the roll when moving over boulders. A new “sand launch control” has been added, and this prevents the wheels digging into soft sand. The “Hill Descent Control” system now features a gradient release control that slows down the initial rate of acceleration making descent of very steep inclines much smoother and more controlled. Exterior changes to the new model year Land Rovers include a revised front bumper, new grilles, new headlights that include both LED running light technology and High Beam Assist, and new 19-inch (and optional 20-inch) wheels which also feature larger brakes as standard. These design enhancements are subtle, but make for striking changes. The rugged attraction of the Discovery 3 is retained, and built on for this fourth generation. Inside the cabins of the Range Rover Sport and the Discovery 4, a completely restyled interior awaits occupants. A new fascia, doors, seats, consoles, instruments, switchgear and steering wheel have enhanced the high-end feel of the new models. A near-perfect vehicle in the Discovery 3 now becomes even more satisfying and rewarding, while the 2010 model year Range Rovers Sport is even more desirable!
ProMotor Issue 06 - Page 13
LEGENDS 14: Subaru Impreza 555 WRC/ WORDS: EVAN ROTHMAN
Creation of an Icon
The Subaru Impreza 555 WRC kicked off the World Rally Car fever in 1993. It was the first in a long line of Impreza rally cars to proudly wear the Blue and Gold of Subaru on the world’s rally stages, and claimed a total of six World Rally Championship titles and 46 rally victories. The most iconic of these impressive rally cars was the Impreza 555. First unveiled to the motoring world on 19 May 1993, it made its competitive debut three months later. It performed strongly in its first event, and it gained more and more pace as its first season drew on. A basic layout and intelligent weight distribution were the key ingredients to its early success, and successive Impreza rally cars used this as their foundation. The engine was all aluminium, meaning that less weight hung over the front wheels to enhance the car’s balance. It also featured an active centre differential to add to the car’s breadth of capabilities. Subaru’s Impreza 555 WRC’s first rally was the gruelling 1000 Lakes Rally in Finland in 1993. Driven by local rally stars Markku Alen ProMotor Issue 06 - Page 14
and Ari Vatanen, the Subaru Impreza proved to be competitive straight out the box. Vatanen dominated the rally, but due to a window de-misting problem, he was denied first place. His second place catapulted the car into the spotlights of rally fans worldwide. The following year, at the 1994 WRC Rally Corsica, Carlos Sainz took the Impreza’s first win. New Zealander “Possum” Bourne won the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship in 1994, and Sainz and Colin McRae added three more WRC wins to the Impreza’s tally. Colin McRae piloted the Impreza 555 to win both the Manufacturers’ and Drivers’ World Rally Championship titles in 1995, making McRae the youngest ever world champion. Sainz finished runner-up in the Drivers’ title fight. 1996 was a repeat of the previous year’s successes, with McRae and teammate Kenneth Eriksson winning a second Manufacturers’ title for the team. The car was replaced for the 1997 with the Impreza WRC97. The Impreza 555 will long be remembered for its breadth of capabilities and as the origins of a rallying legend.
“The most iconic of these rally cars was the Impreza 555.”
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NEW DAWN 16: Peugeot 908 HDi FAP HY/ WORDS: EVAN ROTHMAN
ProMotor Issue 06 - Page 16
NEW DAWN
THE FRENCH THINK OF IT ALL!
Motorsport is the testing ground for new technologies. This cut-throat environment is ideal for the development of new technologies. Over the years, manufacturers have launched high-tech racing prototypes, and we the everyday customers have benefited from this. Peugeot Sport, the French motor manufacturer’s motorsport division, launched their new Le Mans racer at Silverstone at the end of 2008. What makes this an exciting unveiling was that this 908 HDi FAP racer was equipped with a hybrid powerplant featuring a kinetic energy recovery system similar in operation to that found in this year‘s Formula One machines. Dubbed the 908 HY, it was presented to the motorsport fraternity in a new, silver-grey livery. Depending on the specifics of the LMP 1 regulations for 2009, this 908 HY may take to the race tracks of the world! The 908 HDi FAP’s “HY” technology enables a proportion of the kinetic energy produced under braking to be either recovered or stored. There are three elements to this racer’s “HY” technology: a 60kW gear-driven electric motor-generator that takes the place of the conventional starter motor; batteries that allow recovered energy to be stored in 600 lithium-ion cells divided into 10 battery packs; and, an electronic power converter controls the flow of energy between the batteries and the motor-generator The 908HY can be powered in one of three ways: 1) Electric mode only (e.g. in the pit-lane) 2) Internal combustion engine only 3) A combination of the two In the course of a lap of Le Mans, for example, the system will recuperate energy for between 20 and 30 seconds. This energy reserve can be used for either delivering extra power thanks to an additional boost of 60kW for approximately 20 seconds per lap, either automatically when reaccelerating or when the driver chooses to make use of it (‘push to pass’), or to reduce fuel consumption for the equivalent level of performance thanks to the mechanical energy recovered (between three and five per cent). Michel Barge (Peugeot Sport, Director) said: “This hybrid 908 HDi FAP is in perfect keeping with the overall mission of our endurance racing programme which covers not only the challenge of competing, of course, but also the fact that as a car manufacturer we can use motorsport as a research and development tool for the Peugeot brand as a whole. After innovating through the use of our HDi FAP technology in competition, running a hybrid car in endurance racing would give Peugeot a chance to gain extremely valuable experience that would benefit the development of production cars. Whether we use this technology or not in 2009 will obviously depend on the details of the new regulations published by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest.” ProMotor Issue 06 - Page 17
SPORT 18:Citroen C4 WRC Hybrid4/20:A1GP Portugal review/21:Eastern Cape 400 preview/22-25: Sasol Rally preview/26:Toyota F1 win in Courts/
ProMotor Issue 06 - Page 18
SPORT
Citroen tests hybrid powered C4 WRC! The day after the fourth round of this year’s WRC season in Portugal last week, which was won by the C4 WRC, Citroen Racing did some testing with the Citroen C4 WRC HYbrid4 concept car on an asphalt road close to Faro. Spanish star Dani Sordo was at the wheel. Having been born out of the Citroen Racing team’s creative desire to perfect a competitive yet innovative racer, the Citroen C4 WRC HYbrid4 project met with a warm reception when it was presented at the Paris Motor Show. The concept went on to make a hit at the Bologna Motor Show and then at the opening ceremony of the Rally Norway. Since the Geneva Motor Show, it carries the new livery of the title-winning Citroen C4 WRC. The Citroen C4 WRC HYbrid4 was developed using Citroen’s current World Rally Championship contender as a base. An electrical propulsion system has been added to the internal combustion engine, gearbox, and transmission that are specific to the WRC machine. The addition of a 990-cell Ion Lithium battery on top of the petrol tank and a 125kW electric motor driving the rear wheels puts an extra 150kg onto the overall weight. “This system, developed by Citroen Racing, allows the driver to choose between four different modes of functionality” explains Didier Clement, one of the race engineers. “In internal combustion mode, the Citroen C4 WRC HYbrid4 behaves exactly like one of the C4 WRCs that compete on the World Rally Championship. In internal combustion mode with energy recovery switched on, braking endurance is improved and the batteries get charged. On road sections and in the service park, electric mode with energy recovery means that there is less nuisance, increased range and less wear on the conventional engine. Finally, boost mode – which employs both the internal combustion engine and the electric motor – gives an extra 300Nm of torque when engaged.” The two engines are linked to the same drivetrain. The driver can choose electric mode simply by switching on the ignition without starting the internal combustion engine. The gearbox paddles then give him a choice of three settings: forwards, backwards and neutral. Didier Raso, an electrical and systems engineer, comments: “The objective with this project was to be able to use the electric motor to drive on some of the road sections. This fully operational concept responds to that design brief. Citroen
Racing wanted to show its ability to adapt this technology to motorsport. If at any point in the future the regulations permit the use of hybrid technology, we will be able to react straight away.” During the test session, Citroen Total World Rally Team driver Dani Sordo was able to evaluate the dynamic properties of the C4 WRC HYbrid4. One of the highlights of the day was a road section that passed through the village of Barranco do Velho, which was of course open to normal traffic. This allowed the team to assess the advantages of zero emissions in a life-sized context. The second part of the test was a somewhat more familiar territory for Citroen Racing’s development team: a narrow and twisty asphalt road, not at all dissimilar to many of the demanding stages seen on the World Rally Championship. Following the three challenging days of Rally Portugal, which resulted in a third place for Dani Sordo, the young Spaniard looked forward to his latest task with enthusiasm. “In electric mode, you can drive through villages without making the slightest noise, which is very unusual for a competition car,” he reported during the hybrid car’s test. “It’s better for the environment and also more comfortable for the crew, making road sections more pleasant.” Sordo’s comments on the car’s pure performance were equally complimentary. “On the stages, I would say that the overall behaviour of the car is slightly different to that of the C4 WRC, with more weight to the rear,” he reported after his first few flying kilometres in internal combustion mode. “The boost function means that we can choose when to benefit from extra torque under acceleration. When it comes in, the effect is impressive.” Just as is the case on the C4 WRC, the car set-up and tyre choice allow the driver to fine-tune the handling. “The feeling is on the whole the same as the one I have with the standard rally car,” added Sordo. “And I love the way that the C4 goes on asphalt!” Throughout this test session, which well and truly underlined the creativity of Citroen Racing, the Citroen C4 WRC HYbrid4 demonstrated all the credentials that make it an important technological advance in rallying. Driving a C4 HYbrid4 that nonetheless has several things in common with his usual car, Dani Sordo successfully completed a fruitful test in which several valuable lessons were learned for the future. - SUPPLIED BY CITROEN RACING
ProMotor Issue 06 - Page 19
SPORT
No luck for South Africa in A1GP Algarve In one of the best day’s racing in the five-year history of A1GP on a brand new circuit destined to be a great one, Switzerland’s Neel Jani became the winningest A1GP driver when he took his 10th victory in Sunday’s Feature race at Portimao in the Portuguese Algarve on Sunday afternoon. In the process, Jani recorded his fourth win of the season, backto-back Feature race successes for Switzerland following the team’s victory at Kyalami in South Africa in February, and put Switzerland back on top of the championship standings with four races remaining. Ireland (Adam Carroll) finished a fighting second in the Feature race, only to be penalised 25 seconds for overtaking Australia (John Martin) behind the Safety Car before a re-start. He dropped to fifth, promoting home favourite Filipe Albuquerque to second and Malaysia’s Fairuz Fauzy to third. It was the first international car race meeting at the 4,69-km Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, which saw a dominant A1 Team Netherlands (Robert Doornbos) take the Sprint race victory ahead of Ireland’s Carroll and Portugal’s Albuquerque. For South Africa and 21-year-old Adrian Zaugg, it was a desperately unlucky weekend. After qualifying eighth for the Sprint race and fourth for the Feature event – the team’s best qualifying result this season – Zaugg was forced to start the shorter race at the back of the 20-car grid after his engine cut out on the grid. The team managed to restart it, but only after the rest of the cars had got away. He was then involved in two incidents, neither of which was of his making. In the first he was slowed by a puncture and had to pit to replace the flat wheel, losing two laps. Then, three laps from the end of the race, he was taken out by Brazil’s Felipe Guimaraes, who crashed into him from behind. The Feature race started promisingly, with Zaugg into third place at the end of the first lap after pole sitter Doornbos dropped out on the formation lap with an electrical probelm that caused his car to catch fire and activate the extinguisher system. After an excellent first compulsory pit stop, the South African emerged in second place ahead of New Zealand’s Earl Bamber. The Kiwi, running on a set of new tyres while the South African’s team had opted to save their set of new tyres for the second compulsory pit stop, pressured Zaugg until Bamber suffered a bout of red mist and ran into the back of Zaugg on lap 15. It was a disappointing end to a weekend that had promised so much. “After our good showing in Saturday’s qualifying, we were looking to add some much-needed points to our total and substantially improve our championship position. The team deserved better today, but that’s motor racing. Things don’t always go your way,” said a philosophical Mike Carroll, general manager of A1 Team South Africa. Zaugg was equally disappointed. “We had such a good chance to do well today, but luck was not with us at all. I was enjoying the battle with Bamber, who was quicker than me on his new tyres, and I knew if I could finish that second stint well I’d be in a good position to race for a podium in the third and final stint on new tyres.” With no points scored this weekend, South Africa remains 11th in the championship with 19 points and just two more rounds (at Brands Hatch in England on May 3 and Mexico City on May 24) remaining. - SUPPLIED ProMotor Issue 06 - Page 20
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Nissan looks for another win in EC 400 off road outing. Cronje and Birkin won last year’s race – and Toyota will be desperately hoping for a repeat performance. That may be a bridge too far but Taylor and Houghton, in particular, will fancy their chances. Visser and Badenhorst made a solid start to their campaign, and Hugo and Jaap de Bruyn (Micaren Exel Toyota Hilux) are capable of a top five result. Back injuries will keep Chris du Plooy and Ewald van Rensburg (RFS Toyota Hilux) out of action for an indefinite period, but Christiaan du Plooy and Henk Jansen van Vuuren in the second RFS Toyota will have been encouraged by their SP Class debut in the Western Cape.
After just one event the factory Nissan team finds itself in familiar territory going into the Eastern Cape 400, round two of the Absa Off Road Championship, on April 17 and 18. The Donaldson Nissan Navara crews of Duncan Vos/Ralph Pitchford and Hannes Grobler/Juan Mohr came home first and second on the Adenco 400 in the Western Cape to give Nissan a flying start in this year’s Production Vehicle overall and Class SP title chases. The opposition is used to flying starts from Nissan, and it could have been a clean sweep of the podium positions had Ivar Tollefsen and Quin Evans not picked up a puncture 30 kilometres out. That relegated the Norwegian and his Brit co-driver to fourth behind the RFS Toyota Hilux of Chris Visser and Japie Badenhorst, but sent out a clear message to the Ford and Toyota works and privateer crews. The early season form of the Donaldson Nissans is ominous and they will obviously start the early favourites on an event that has been shifted to the Jeffreys Bay area. Support for the factory team will come from Terence Marsh and Pieter Groenewald in the Regent Racing Nissan Navara campaigned last year by Vos. Marsh is a former SA champion in the Special Vehicle category and the Adenco 400 saw the pair make a highly encouraging start in Class SP. The Ford factory team missed the Adenco 400, but former champions Neil Woolridge and Kenny Skjoldhammer will be at Jeffreys Bay along with Thomas Rundle and Hennie ter Stege in the factory twin turbo diesel Ford Rangers. Rundle, who moves up from Class E, faces a huge learning curve but the Ford package looks to be a strong one with Woolridge and Skjoldhammer bringing to the party vast experience. In the absence of the Ford factory teams in the Western Cape the solid pairing of Kobus van Tonder and Riaan Guelpa did a workmanlike job in the Uni Freight Ford Ranger. They will this time be out in the ex Ferguson works Ford Ranger, with the squad bolstered by Graham Leith and Mike Lawrenson in Transcor colours, and Pieter Ruthven and De Waal Boshoff in the Ruwacon Ranger. The Castrol Toyota Hilux factory challenge will come from Anthony Taylor/Robin Houghton and Hein Lategan/Chris Birkin with both drivers having their first outing in the Eastern Cape. Taylor joined the Toyota squad after the corresponding race last year, while Lategan is a replacement for Mark Cronje, who has taken a sabbatical, and will be having only his second
The Toyota challenge could be further bolstered by a maiden appearance of a Hilux, in the hands of Gary Bertholdt and Andre Vermeulen, in Atlas Copco colours, the IDM Cement entry in the hands of Jaco Swanepoel and Keith Solomon and George and Sharon Barkhuizen in the Aim Toyota Hilux. Bertholdt was a flyer in the Special Vehicle category, and will also be facing a learning curve. Adenco 400 winners Cliff and Louis Weichelt (N1 4x4 Toyota Hilux D4D) lead a powerful Toyota challenge in Class D. The experienced Weichelt’s will be supported by Dewald van Breda and Johan du Toit, the 2008 Rookies of the Year in the Northam Toyota Hilux D4D, and the husband and wife team of Ramon and Maret Bezuidenhout in the Botes Transport Toyota Hilux. The Bezuidenhout’s are back in Class D after a brief foray into the Special Vehicle category and will be keen to get some points on the board. The same applies to veterans Coetzee Labuscagne and Johan Gerber, in the Raysonics Nissan Hardbody, who suffered terminal engine damage on the Adenco 400 prologue. A brave effort in the Western Cape saw Johan Fouche and Wentzel Pretorius on the Class D podium in the lone Mitsubishi Colt running in Class D. Dogged determination could again be their trump card. Down in Class E the 4x4 Megaworld Toyota Hilux pair of Deon Venter and Ian Palmer will be keen to build on their win on the Adenco 400. They overcame a string of problems for a hard earned victory in a class that looks as though it is going to be highly competitive. Louw de Bruin and Riaan Greyling (Ruwacon Ford Ranger) made an encouraging Class E debut in the ex Peckham Ford Ranger, and there was a typically dogged display from reigning champions Jannie Visser and Joks le Roux in the RFS Toyota Hilux. After problems in the prologue Visser/le Roux ground out a third place that could be significant at the end of the year. Although he was among the non finishers in the Western Cape track and kart star Leeroy Poulter, paired with Rob Howie in a factory Ferodo Nissan Hardbody, did enough on debut to suggest he will soon be challenging for wins. Baphumze Rubuluza and Khuliele Vakalisa, in the factory Ford Ranger, will be looking for a good finish along with newcomers Heinie Strumpher (Micaren Exel Toyota Hilux) and Pikkie Labuschange and Rikus Erasmus in a second 4x4 Megaworld Toyota Hilux. Race headquarters will be at the Mentorskraal Country Estate in Jeffreys Bay. Documentation will start at 10:00 on April 17 with the prologue scheduled to start at 13:00 and the main race at 08:30 on April 18. - SUPPLIED. ProMotor Issue 06 - Page 21
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Sasol Rally will be Toyota vs Volkswagen!
The Sasol Rally, in association with Mpumulanga Tourism, sees the resumption of an unrivalled championship battle unfolding in a tense, exciting and spectacular show of gravel racing from the top drawer, where the real winners are the spectators that flock to the stages in their thousands to witness this amazing contest first-hand. The 2009 Sasol South African Rally Championship is already on track to provide some of the most brilliant motorsport action ever, with two factory-entered Castrol Toyota and three BP Volkswagen Polos locked in a tense fight for title honours. After two rounds, there is a tie at the top of the points table between the first round winners Johnny Gemmell/Peter Marsh and round two victors Hergen Fekken/Pierre Arries. Four of the five works drivers have, at some point, headed the timesheets on the opening two rounds so far, with ultra close split second action the order of the day. On the Toyota Dealer Rally at the beginning of April for example, the two S2000 BP Volkswagens were split by one second with one stage to run, setting the scene for an incredible final stage showdown.
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The 19th Sasol Rally, organized by the highly experienced SA Motorsport Club, will offer spectators a wealth of entertainment, both on and off the special stages. Sasol are pulling out all the stops to entertain the fans and create a rally with a difference. The Castrol Toyota squad will field first round winners Johnny Gemmell and Peter Marsh in a S2000 Auris, who head up the championship table with 44 points after claiming the bottom step of the podium on the second round. The Sasol Rally hasn’t been kind to the Toyota team in recent years, so the team will be looking to turn their bogey event into a victory celebration. Mark Cronje/Robert Paisley in the second Castrol Toyota Auris have been frighteningly quick this year – too quick on occasion, crashing out in Natal while comfortably leading – and they too will want to bank solid points in what is going to be a tough year of racing. The talented BP Ultimate Volkswagen team have on their books the last three SA Rally Champions, a formidable line-up of winning experience headed by the current champions and the
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most recent winner Hergen Fekken/Pierre Arries in their VW Polo. They too have 44 points to their name and must rank as the fastest team in the sport. Not to be outdone, 2007 champions and the most experienced driver in the field is Jan Habig/Douglas Judd, third in the title standings with 38 points. Habig is as fast as ever and hungry to win again so watch him fly through the tight and twisty forest stages. Enzo Kuun and Guy Hodgson, the 2006 champions, are out of luck at the moment, but Kuun won the Sasol Rally last year and loves the tight forest stages. He is as determined as ever to show the world he has what it takes to stand on the top step of the podium again in such exalted company. A bevy of privateer entries are lurking just behind the factoryrun teams, ready to pounce should they slip. Heading the ‘second division’ is Jean-Pierre Damseaux and co-driver Andre Vermeulen in their S2000 Team Total Toyota RunX. Fernando Rueda and Cobus Vrey (S2000 Team Total Toyota RunX) ended in the points in KZN, but retired from his home event with a broken gearbox. Japie van Niekerk/Robin Houghton are getting quicker on each outing in their S2000 New Africa Developments Toyota RunX and after a fighting 6th in the Cape, will be looking to edge closer to the works teams. Nicholas Ryan/Geoff Tyrer return in their private S2000 Toyota RunX after missing round two due to budget constraints. Theuns Joubert/Hennie Botes, newcomers this year to the S2000 class, have amassed 25 points in their Salom Group Volkswagen Polo after two solid performances designed to earn seat time and finish, which they did inside the top 10 each time. Class A7 has a new driving force in the shape of Stevan Wilken and Greg Gericke and their Pannar Seeds/Triton Express Volkswagen Polo. The young Natal charger has racked up back-to-back wins and leads the class title standings with 18 points, against the 12 of their main rivals Evan Hutchinson/ Elvene Coetzee. Class champions Chris de Wit/Dean Redelinghuys have suffered two very rare engine breakages in a row – before turning a wheel in anger this year. Schalk Burger/Armand du Toit, the reigning Northern Regions Rally Champions, have also endured a harrowing start to the season, failing to log a point in their Spike Energy Drink Toyota Corolla. Michael Otto/Tommy du Toit (Liqui Moly Toyota Corolla) withdrew from the Cape rally to sort their car and should be on the pace with the front runners on the Sasol Rally. The slowest of the trio of Team Total class A6 entries, Craig Trott/Robbie Coetzee, lead the title chase with a win and second place to date, proving the old motorsport adage that to finish first, first you must finish. The fastest pair is unquestionably the Toyota Auris driven by Mohammed Moosa/Grant Martin. Moosa crashed out of a two minute lead in KZN and claimed a solid win in the Cape. Tied on 9 class points with Moosa is the newcomer to the class Rodney Visagie/Carolyn Swan, class winners on debut but a retiree last time out. Three points separate the trio so watch the sparks fly.
Stephanie and Willem Hugo (Wiel Toyota Corolla) should make the trip from Namibia after recording a last stage retirement on the Toyota Rally while well on track to earn a wad of points. The young student and her father are very capable and can become a threat to the Total boys. Class A5 features an intense struggle for supremacy between the two BP Ultimate Volkswagen CitiGolfs of double-winner and 2007 class champions Gugu Zulu/Carl Peskin and 2008 title-holders Andre Cleenwerck/Des de Fortier. These two trade mere seconds and are probably the two most evenly matched cars in the field. This race is one not to be missed. Riyad Jaffer, a former circuit racer will start his third rally in the Sasol Toyota Yaris, ably guided by Henry Dearlove. Jaffer had a torrid debut in KZN and retired in stage 1 in the Cape, so will be under pressure in his most important event of the year. Vusi Mabanga/Shaun Visser (Team Total Toyota Yaris) drove brilliantly in the Cape to score a class A5 podium and is highly motivated to repeat this result on the Sasol. 16-year old Ashley Haigh Smith/Hilton Auffrey (React Toyota Yaris) continues to learn the ropes and will make his first Sasol Rally start. Rounding out the modified entry is Piet Bakkes/Johan Aucamp in their Sasol Komatipoort Volkswagen CitiGolf, hoping to end their run of non-finishes and Benjamin Pinho/AN Other in the little Ford Ka. The iconic burbling Subaru exhaust note and popping anti-lag system on the Mitsubishi Lancer announce the arrival of the premier class N4 turbocharged, four-wheel drive machinery, headed by the current category champions Charl Wilken and Greg Godrich in their Sasol/Konica Minolta Subaru Impreza N14. Wilken is in top form and in spite of two relatively easy wins, has not yet shown the full potential of the new Sasol Impreza hatchback, which must be a daunting thought for his rivals. Visser du Plessis/Gerhard Snyman, in a similar Prodrivebuilt Pirtek-supported Subaru Impreza, is the most likely pair to dislodge Wilken from the top of the podium, and the tight forest stages of the Sasol Rally could provide their best opportunity yet to succeed. Du Plessis, a former TV soapie star, retired from the opening round and finished as runner–up in the Cape. Mike Nathan, the 2007 class N2 champion, is back in rallying with Derek Jacobs reading the notes, driving the ex-Fernando Rueda Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX, which they have used to good effect to score a pair of podium places and clock up 23 points, twelve behind Wilken and nine ahead of Du Plessis. Tjaart Coetzee/Raymond Heenop have the ex-Hein Lategan SAC Diesel Trucks Subaru Impreza, and should put up a good fight in the Sabie forests. Coetzee will have to look out for the local pairing of Joos/Danie Stassen, bringing their De Goede Finance Subaru Impreza STI out for its first run of the season. Chase Attwell and Brian Carrihill have their third outing together in their Subaru Impreza STi. The young Zimbabwean charger ended third in the Cape but was excluded for a road infringement, so has all the motivation to go for the podium again.
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Gary Berndt/Lohan Spies (Subaru Bruma Impreza GT) and Murray Lloyd/Ralph Lehman (MLC Computer Solutions Subaru Impreza GT) are regular competitors in the Northern Regions Rally Championship and may well earn points for a top six finish in their older cars. Dave Compton/Pierre Jordaan have been untouchable in class N3, rocketing their Sasol Toyota RunX to two consecutive victories so far, even beating the modified class A6 runners on the fast, flowing roads of the Overberg region. Compton is deceptively quick and will again be the main contender for win number three. Chasing hard should be the similar Toyota RunX of East Rand husband and wife Riaan and Hester Erasmus. The Erasmuses have Rodney Visagie’s 2008 championship-winning car, which has the potential to challenge the dominant Sasol machine. Off-track entertainment starts on Thursday afternoon with the Sasol Pit Stop in Sabie. The public will be able to experience the comprehensive Sasol Motorsport programme, meet racing celebrities, interact with the Sasol brand and view technical displays of the Sasol range of products in a wide-ranging programme of pre-event entertainment. Scrutineering takes place in the Sabie Town Square, where the public can view the car close-up and chat to the crews. Sasol will run a ‘win a ride in a rally car’ competition and Sasol Rally souvenirs and memorabilia will be on sale, while there’s plenty of give-aways from the commentator’s vans along the route. The Sasol Rally consists of 14 special stages covering 170km of special stage racing, with a total route of 470km. The rally starts from the Sabie Town Square at 11am on Friday, 24th April and immediately takes crews into a series of four gravel stages, all located close to Sabie town. The first stage is next to Long Tom Pass, followed by a stage around Rosehaugh and Hendriksdal, ending near the Witklip Dam. Stage three is a new version of the Witklip Dam stage with stage four at the Spitskop Village, one of the best viewing spots on the entire event. The traditional supper break at the York Sports Ground precedes the Sabie Town Twister at 18h00 and the Sasol White River stage at 20h00. Saturday kicks off at 07h45 with the Sasol Sensational stage, the established Nelspruit Spaghetti Junction SuperSpecial, where evenly-matched cars compete side-by-side over a mirror image course in the heart of Mpumulanga’s capital city. It’s back on to gravel for stages 8 and 9, which are re-runs of stages two and three respectively before tackling a stage near Klein Sabie on the Graskop road, which will be repeated later in the day as stage 12. Stage 11 is a repeat of stage 1, stage 13 is a re0run of the spectacular Spitskop stage, and the final stage is the Sasol Finale, which starts at 15h45 and takes rally cars into the Nelspruit Showgrounds stadium at full racing speeds, across the flying finish and to the final time control. Sasol will provide a spectacular stage setting for the podium ceremony, which fans are welcome to stay and watch. SUPPLIED
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Sasol Rally Team aims for hat-trick in Sabie!
After a perfect start to the Sasol Rally Team’s Production Car, class N4 and class N3 championship campaigns which has yielded two victories in each category from two starts, the team heads into their most important event of the season determined to deliver another top level performance in front of the biggest live audience of the year. The Sasol Rally, in association with Mpumulanga Tourism, is arguably the most popular rally of the year with both teams and spectators; round 3 of the Sasol South African Rally Championship is set to provide world-class motorsport entertainment throughout the Sabie, White River and Nelspruit areas, with Charl Wilken and Greg Godrich, as well as Dave Compton/Pierre Jordaan and Riyad Jaffer/Henry Dearlove adding to the spectacle as they fight for championship honours. Wilken and Godrich, the defending Production Car and Class N4 champions, driving their new Sasol/Konica Minolta Subaru Impreza N14 imported from Prodrive in the UK, have dominated the Production Car and class N4 proceedings this year and this looks set to continue. The Pretoria marketing specialist brought his car home a stunning 2nd overall on the Tour Natal Rally in March, and again won his two categories in the Western Cape three weeks ago. With 38 points to their name, they have a 12 point lead over their main rival Mike Nathan and a ten point lead in the class N4 title chase. Wilken has a love-hate relationship with the Sasol Rally; he crashed heavily in 2007 while 2008 yielded a second in class and 6th overall. “It’s a very demanding event”, says Wilken. “The stages are quite technical and it demands a lot of concentration. There are some nasty bumps that can catch you out, while other parts are rocky and rough – definitely not an easy event”. Wilken and Godrich are 4th on the overall Sasol Championship standings, a position they hope to maintain, which is a tall order considering there are ten S2000 cars in the field. “It’s very important to win the production car class, especially as it’s our sponsor Sasol’s flagship event. That will be our first objective. Our second objective is to score as high an overall place as possible to maintain our overall position Dave Compton, a former circuit racer, has taken to the faster class N3 Sasol Toyota RunX like a duck to water, taking two
comprehensive wins after spending his first year of gravel racing in the smaller class A5 Sasol Toyota Yaris. With codriver Pierre Jordaan joining the team this year, the Sasol RunX should be comfortably ahead of the pack in the top two-wheel drive production-based class. “I would be delighted to repeat last year’s performance on the Sasol Rally, which we won in the Yaris”, said Compton. “We’ll be aiming as always to finish the rally and bank the points, but by the same token, we’ll be pushing hard to see how far up the order we can be”. Compton continued: “This will be my second Sasol Rally so I know what lies in wait. The stages are very different in that they are quite tight and very twisty. The trees are always a risk, especially the damp patches of red clay in the shade which can catch you out if you’re not paying attention”. “The Sasol Rally is very important to the team. There is a bit more PR work involved, especially on Thursday but it’s great to meet the fans and Sasol’s guests in a relaxed carnival atmosphere”, he concluded. Riyad Jaffer, a 27 year-old law student from Laudium, Pretoria is another convert from circuit racing and in his first year of rallying. He and co-driver Henry Dearlove are quietly confident of a good showing, targeting a podium finish as a realistic goal. “The Sasol Toyota Yaris won class A5 last year and the year before, so we know it is quick in the conditions we will face. We’ll have a new engine for the Sasol Rally which will help as well”, said Jaffer. “I hope it goes well in Mpumulanga. We were confident going into the Cape Rally earlier this month but the car let us down unexpectedly. The Yaris’ record in the Sasol Rally adds a bit more pressure because I will have a clearer idea of how I’m progressing as a rally driver, as the car is a known quantity”, Jaffer reasoned. “I’m getting a grip on rallying now and getting a better feel for the car and Henry, so I’m enjoying it a lot more than I did at the start of the year”. Log on to www.sasolracing.co.za for more information. SUPPLIED. ProMotor Issue 06 - Page 25
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Toyota Motorsport win in F1 Court of Appeal! Toyota Motorsport is pleased to hear the FIA International Court of Appeal has upheld the decision of the Australian Grand Prix stewards concerning the rear diffuser on our car this week. In a press release Toyota stated: “As we have maintained throughout, our team studied the wording of the new 2009 regulations in precise detail to ensure we interpreted them correctly. “We also made full use of the consultation procedure with the FIA which was a helpful process to ensure our interpretation of the technical regulations was correct. “Therefore we had every confidence that the design of our car would be confirmed as legal, firstly by race stewards in Australia and Malaysia and subsequently by the Court of Appeal.” Chairman and Team Principal Tadashi Yamashina said: “I was confident the Court of Appeal would reach this verdict and
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I am satisfied with it. It is important to stress we studied the technical regulations in precise detail, consulting the FIA in our process, and never doubted our car complied with them. This has been a challenging period for Formula 1 and I am pleased this issue is now in the past and we can focus on an exciting season on the track.” With this latest news, and with the likes of McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull baying for Toyota’s blood over this controversy, it can now be said in full confidence that Toyota F1 is now a strong force for the Manufacturers’ title in 2009! Alongwith Toyota F1, Brawn GP and Williams F1 were also cleared of any allegations of illegal rear diffuser on their machines too, as the Court of Appeal upheld the FIA ruling that their F1 racers were legal. It is now very evident that the F1 powers have shifted to the new teams, and this ushers in a new era for the sport. Ferrari and McLaren have much to do to regain lost ground (and respect, in my opnion) this season.
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