ProMotor Issue 4 (April)

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AUDI RS6

serves knockout punch!

Audi’s big hitter // Mazda’s new best seller // Honda’s S2000 say goodbye // Be like Loeb // more...

ProMotor - Exclusive interview with Rautenbach

Issue 4 - APRIL 2009

Fierce racing in Production Cars

REGULARS 10 WET PAINT 14 LEGENDS 16 NEW DAWN 18 SPORT

FEATURES 04 Audi RS6

Audi has unleashed its most powerful production car!

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Ee FMRagEazin

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AUDI RS6

serves knockout punch!

06 Honda S2000

Time to say goodbye to this iconic roadster as it bows out.

A truly fantastic machine!

08 Jackie Pretorius KIND THANKS TO CONTRIBUTORS: Motorpics HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS Newspress

ProMotor

Fast, fun and South African, Jackie Pretorius will be missed by many.

08 Automechanika & Merc’s SLS AMG

Audi’s big hitter // Mazda’s new best seller // Honda’s S2000 say goodbye // Be like Loeb // more...

ProMotor - Exclusive interview with Rautenbach

Issue 4 - APRIL 2009

Fierce racing in Production Cars

ProMotor

Editors Evan Rothman evanrothman@gmail.com 083 452 6892 Anton Wannenburg anton@promotor.co.za 082 929 6120

FEATURE 04:Audi RS6/06:Honda S2000/08:Jackie Pretorius/09: Automechanika 2009/09:Mercedes-Benz’s SLS AMG concept/

AUDI’S BIG HITTER SERVES RIVALS KNOCKOUT PUNCH!

ProMotor Issue 04 - Page 04

FEATURE At a stretch of the imagination, one could think up the an incredible super saloon. Taking bits from every fast car currently available, you’ll find the engineer in you has an evil sense of humour. Why on earth would you want to build, let alone drive, a car that would be so eye-wateringly fast that you’d be too scared to sneeze in case you nail the accelerator pedal for just one second… WRITES EVAN ROTHMAN. There are many super saloons out there, and all the major motor manufacturers have a model in their stable. This class is filled with tasty options from BMW with their impressive M5, the Italians have created the Maserati Quattroporte, the Jaguar XFR is a new arrival, Mercedes-Benz’s E63 AMG, and what about a fighter jet?

Well, a group of engineers dreamed up a monster of a super saloon and it isn’t a concept car because it is available now! This is the new fast Audi. This is the RS6!

When Audi build fast cars, they are not simply done as marketing exercises: these cars are designed to swallow continents in the bat of an eyelid, and there is none I rather drive more at the moment than the Audi RS6. With a howling 5,0litre V10 twin turbocharged motor under the long bonnet you’d be right in thinking it is powerful.

On tap is a whopping 426kW at 6 250rpm and 650Nm of torque from 1 500rpm. Mated to a slickshifting six-speed Tiptronic gearbox, it is capable of reaching 100km/h from standstill in just 4,6 seconds, and easily reach its limited top speed of 250km/h. To put those figures into perspective, accelerating from 80-100km/h takes 1,1 sec, from 120-140km/h only 1,7sec… This machine is not for the faint-hearted.

And, its estimated fuel consumption figure of 17-litres/100km is also not for faint of heart. But considering the price tag of R1 069 000, worrying about filling the petrol tank is not a problem for these wealthy customers.

If I was driving, and saw this big car appear in my mirrors I would move to the slower lane immediately. It has a presence, a sense that it will intimidate you, in its DNA. But, when looking at it, it has subtle touches that differentiate it from lesser models in the A6 model line-up.

The first give-away are the silver-coloured side mirrors. And those enormous alloy wheels. And the RS6 badge on the front grille and boot lid.

It is a “sleeper” car, but don’t for one minute underestimate it.

Inside, you’ll find yourself in the usual high-quality cabin with just about everything that beeps, blinks, flips and pushes in here. Wall-to-wall leather, with the required sports seats to keep you in place. It oozes quality, typical of Audi interiors.

As with all fast Audis, it is equipped with its proven Quattro four-wheel drive system. It is has a 40:60 front/rear split, and the Torsen centre differential can divert up to 85 percent of the engine’s power to the rear wheels and 65 percent to the fronts.

Grip and handling are top drawer, and need to be as this car is 5m long, 1,9m wide and 1,5m high and weighs in at a little over two tonnes.

Want to get a taste of this beast’s performance?

Search for video clips of it on YouTube, and you’ll then be able to get a better idea of how seriously quick this car really is. It is THE super saloon!

ProMotor Issue 04 - Page 05

FEATURE

SAY GOODBYE TO HONDA’S MIGHTY S2000 ROADSTER: AN ICONIC SPORTS CAR!

ProMotor Issue 04 - Page 06

FEATURE Honda’s impressive S2000 roadster has reached the end of its production life after a decade of providing motoring thrills and achieving global sales of more than 110 000 units.

Come the end of June this year, the car that set the roadster market alight in South Africa has fast become one of the most exciting sports cars on our roads and is sure to be a collectors item now.

Considered a benchmark sports car from the very outset, the S2000 made its initial debut as the SSM concept car, first revealed at the 1995 Tokyo Motor Show. SSM was an acronym for “Sports Study Model”, but the aluminium-bodied concept was close to production ready, and featured many of the elements that would become synonymous with the S2000 production model. These included the trademark red push-button starter control, a front-engined, rear-wheel drive configuration and the high transmission tunnel dividing the cockpit into two – although the concept’s central, dividing spar was not adopted.

The S2000 production model eventually made its official debut in 1999. The S2000 designation was a reference to the car’s engine capacity, following a naming tradition established by previous Honda sports cars, including the S500, S600 and S800 roadsters. It is powered by what was then considered the world’s most powerful naturally aspirated 2,0-litre, four-cylinder engine – the Honda F20C. The 1 997 cc DOHC unit employs Honda’s VTEC variable valve control system, and produces 177 kW of maximum power at an extremely high-revving 8 500 r/min. The torque peak of 208 Nm is available at 7 500 r/min, while the engine is redlined at an almost unbelievable 9 000 r/min.

At launch, the all-aluminium engine’s specific power output of 88,6 kW/litre was a new record for a normally aspirated two-litre, four-cylinder engine, while its banshee wail at maximum revs remains one of the motoring world’s most evocative sounds.

Yet even back then, a decade ago, the engine was one of the cleanest of its kind, easily conforming to the toughest emissions legislation, including the Californian Low Emissions Vehicle regulations, and the full EU2000 requirement.

Weighing only 1 260 kg, the rear-wheel drive S2000 requires only 6,2 seconds to reach 100 km/ h from rest, while top speed comes to 240 km/h.

Despite its high-performance status, the S2000 achieves a combined cycle fuel consumption figure of 10,0 litres/100 km.

The visual identity of the S2000 is heavily influenced by the SSM, including the arrow-head front styling, the faired-in xenon headlights, muscular haunches and short overhangs. Visual interest at the rear is provided by the circular tail light elements drawn together in a single cluster, and the twin chromed exhaust tail pipes.

The interior focuses closely on the S2000’s sports car identity, with sculpted bucket seats, that iconic starter button (an automotive innovation still emulated by others to this day), and digital instrumentation – another novelty at the time.

Although strictly a two-seater, the roadster offers practical boot space of 160 litres, while the canvas hood is electrically operated, and opens and closes in a mere six seconds.

Safety features include dual SRS airbags and seat belt pre-tensioners, while the reinforced windscreen frame is designed to act as a roll-over bar in the case of an accident. Roll-over hoops behind the seat backs provide further protection.

Ensuring vitally involving – and thrilling – handling is a suspension layout suited to the S2000’s thoroughbred positioning. Consisting of double wishbones front and rear, the extremely compact design is both rigid and lightweight, and is mounted inside the alloy wheels.

Electric power steering provides the quick, precise steering expected of a purist roadster, while a mechanical limited-slip differential ensures progressive road manners. An all-disc braking system with ABS anti-lock control delivers vital, sure-footed stopping power in line with the S2000’s performance potential.

After its 1999 debut, the S2000 underwent an ongoing programme of improvements. The first of these were tweaks to the interior and suspension, which were in introduced in 2002.

Two years later, a further range of running changes saw the introduction of a more rigid chassis construction and tauter spring and damper settings, with commensurate steering response improvements. Latest-generation ABS antilock control was also included, as were minor changes to the exterior styling, including revised headlights, tail light clusters and a reshaped rear bumper.

In 2006, a significant model update saw the introduction of an advanced drive-by-wire throttle system, significantly improving throttle response, while Honda’s VSA (vehicle stability assistance) system was also added to the standard specification. An upgraded sound system with speakers integrated into the roll-over hoops was the highlight of an interior update, with minor adjustment to trim and paint colour options. New 17-inch wheels were included, too.

“There is no doubt that the Honda S2000 is one of the world’s iconic sports cars – and a car that has been a consistent brand ambassador for Honda since its launch a decade ago,” says Graham Eagle, general manager of sales and marketing at Honda South Africa.

“Its relevance as a lightweight, purist sports car featuring advanced technology remains unchallenged, as the continued demand for the car attests. However, with the global focus shifting to alternative energy and even smaller, more lightweight designs, the S2000 chapter is about to close.”

Eagle expects demand for the two-seater sports car to ramp up as enthusiasts stake their claim to one of the world’s most iconic roadsters.

“We have a limited number of S2000s in stock, but expect these to be snapped up well ahead of production ending. No doubt, the S2000 will become a collector’s item, and a proud contributor to Honda’s sports car heritage.”

The current Honda S2000 2.0 VTEC Roadster has a recommended retail price of R423 900, and is available from approved Honda dealers countrywide.

- SOURCE: Honda South Africa ProMotor Issue 04 - Page 07

FEATURE

Jackie Pretorius’ passing signals end of an era Jackie Pretorius, one of the most colourful characters in the long and distinguished history of South African motor racing, died in Sunninghill Hospital in Johannesburg this morning. He was 74. He didn’t recover from severe injuries he sustained in a savage assault by intruders at his home in Glen Austin three weeks ago.

Several years ago he and his wife Shirley were viciously attacked by intruders in the same house and his wife subsequently died as a result of her injuries. He leaves a niece, Christine. Funeral arrangements are still to be announced.

Pretorius first came to prominence in 1964 when he drove Doug Serrurier’s LDS Alfa Mk 1 in the national Formula One championship, finishing fifth and sixth in the Republic Day Trophy at Kyalami and the Border 100 in East London. He unsuccessfully tried to qualify the car for the 1965 world championship South African Grand Prix in East London. The following year he finished ninth in the non-championship event in a Lotus Climax.

He competed in the national F1/F5000 championship in a Walls ice cream-backed F5000 Lola Ford, recording one of many memorable wins in a rain-soaked False Bay 100 at Killarney in Cape Town in August 1968, beating the F1 Repco Brabhams of Dave Charlton and Sam Tingle He graduated to a Brabham Climax BT11, which he drove in the 1968 SA GP under the Team Pretoria banner. He enjoyed his best F1 year in 1971 at the wheel of a Team Gunston Brabham BT26A, in which he competed in the SA GP and at the wheel of which he won rounds of the national F1/F5000 championship at Killarney in Cape Town and Pietermaritzburg’s Roy Hesketh circuits.

In 1973 he was invited by Frank Williams to stand in for the injured Nani Galli in a Williams IsoMarlboro FX3B in the SA GP. He was forced to ProMotor Issue 04 - Page 08

retire with overheating problems.

He also drove 2-litre and 5-litre sports cars with his great friend Doug Serrurier and together they won the 1967 Pietermaritzburg Three Hour race in a Lola. He also enjoyed success with overseas drivers Barry Smith and Guy Edwards in the Three Hour at Roy Hesketh.

Renowned for his good humour and his ability to enjoy a good party, he worked for 34 years for Wynn Oil, a staunch supporter of motor racing when Pretorius was at the height of his career.

Ernest Hemingway once wrote, “There are only three sports: motor racing, bullfighting and mountaineering … all the rest are merely games”.

Pretorius, like Hemingway, lived his life to the full and would have agreed, although he might have harboured some doubts about the other two sports.

FEATURE

Trade Show!

The first Automechanika South Africa, held at the Expo Centre, Johannes¬burg from March 18-21, exceeded all expectations. More than 400 companies put on indoor and outdoor displays that covered a gross display area of 25 000m2 , making it the biggest inaugural Automechanika automotive aftermarket trade fair since the brand went global about 10 years ago.

Johannesburg is now the 13th city in 12 countries to stage an Automechanika trade fair for the automotive aftermarket.

The original plans – made long before last year’s global economic downturn - had called for 250 exhibitors. This target was far exceeded by the 400 companies that came to Expo Centre, near Johannesburg’s new World Cup soccer stadium.

They were split about 50:50 between local and international exhibitors and came from South Africa, Asia, Europe, South America and the Arab world.

Many of the foreign companies took advantage of the trade fair to gain access to the South African market. For some, this was their first time in the country. Others came with the aim of further developing their working relationship with existing customers in South Africa, while also looking for additional markets.

“We are very pleased with the support we got from so many exhibitors, because they were actually pioneers in a new venture in South Africa, which underlines the strength of an established global brand such as Automechanika that dates back to 1971,” commented the show director of Automechanika SA, Philip Otto.

The performance arm of Mercedes-Benz has for the first time in its 40-year history presented the motoring world with a vehicle developed inhouse, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, WRITES EVAN ROTHMAN. Described as a super sports car, the SLS AMG is an exciting proposition in that it boasts unique technology: aluminium spaceframe body with gullwing doors, AMG 6,3-litre V8 front-mid engine pushing out 420kW of power and has dry sump lubrication, a sevenspeed dual-clutch transmission in a transaxle configuration and sports suspension with aluminium double wishbones. With a front/rear weight distribution of 48/52 percent and a low centre of gravity, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is an uncompromising sports car concept.

Offering undiluted driving dynamics, distinctive styling, and Mercedes practicality and safety, the new “Gullwing” is aimed at forming a perfect synthesis of the strengths of the Mercedes and AMG brands.

Merc’s new super sports car concept!

“The standard of many of the displays was outstanding and the overall atmosphere was one of professionalism. The overseas visitors seemed most impressed because for many of them it was their first visit to the African continent and they did not know what to expect,” added Otto.

The participating companies and organisations exhibited and demonstrated a wide variety of products for the workshop and replacement parts segments, as well as automotive accessories and vehicle washing products and equipment. There were also a number of automotive service providers and allied industries represented, including several from the trucking and transport industries.

About 8,200 trade visitors, many of them vehicle manufacturers, dealers, workshop proprietors, forwarding agents and investors visited the show over the four days. They came primarily from the sub-Saharan countries in Africa, although there were a number of overseas visitors.

Detlef Braun, Member of the Board of Management of Messe Frankfurt, which owns the Automechanika brand, said: “With Automechanika South Africa we have added another potent event to our family of high quality trade fairs. It is one of the brand’s major global premières and we were delighted that it was supported by a number of prominent global companies such as ABB, ZF, Liqui Moly, Bosch, Diesel Technic, Tenneco and Castrol. This underscores the high quality of the fair.”

ProMotor Issue 04 - Page 09

WET PAINT 10: Citroen “by Loeb”/11: Porsche Design Edition 3/12: Mazda3/13: Lamborghini/ WORDS: EVAN ROTHMAN

Be like Loeb: drive a signed C4!

Want to feel like a five-time World Rally Champion?

Citroen has added a new model to the popular C4 Coupe range that has been enhanced by some special WRC bits.

This limited and very special edition model, named simply “by Loeb” features a sporty new interior and exterior styling, bold colours and a spec sheet an arm’s length long. To highlight its exclusivity, each edition is also tagged with a unique serial number plaque mounted in the cabin.

The new Citroen C4 “by Loeb” features Sebastien Loeb’s signature on the doors and a unique “by Loeb” sticker on the tailgate. Rounding off the car’s sporty design, the C4 “by Loeb” is fitted with a sleek spoiler and 17-inch alloy wheels.

This sporty feel is carried through to the interior, ProMotor Issue 04 - Page 10

where steel accents are placed around the central air vents and aluminium finishes are added to both the pedals and gear knob. Red stitching complements the leather-wrapped steering wheel and sports seats, while the floor mats are also detailed with “by Loeb” design.

In Europe this car is equipped with a 1,6-litre powerplant, and is enough to keep Seb happy so its good enough for the rest of us, then.

A fantastic tribute to the world’s most successful rally driver ever! Long live Seb Loeb!

WET PAINT

Porsche Design Edition for Cayenne!

The fashion police are usually the first to pounce on a new car, particularly if it’s an SUV. Many cars have been criticised for their styling, with many new cars quickly springing to mind. There is another car that may raise eyebrows, regardless of my attraction to it.

Porsche recently unveiled its Cayenne GTS Porsche Design Edition 3 model, which is a limited edition of only 1 000 units worldwide. Featuring new styling cues that emphasise the car’s V8 power and high performance attitude, this car is unashamedly bold.

Designers at the Porsche Design Studio, based in Zell am See in Austria, have painted the Cayenne in Lava Grey Metallic to accentuate its sporting stance. Go-fast stripes on the bonnet and along the side of the car, as well as the 21-inch diameter SportPlus alloy wheels further boost this car’s new styling. An extended roof spoiler with a double wing profile is available as a no-cost option.

Inside this ridiculously fast SUV, an all-black leather upholstery with red contrasting seams on the instrument panel and doors awaits occupants. Special Porsche logos on the seats and Design Edition 3 signage on the instrument gauges lets you know you have bought a special edition model.

With a powerful 405bhp 4,8-litre motor under the bonnet and six-speed Tiptronic S transmission as standard, the Porsche Cayenne GTS Design Edition 3 is able to accelerate from standstill to 100km/h in 6,5 seconds…

Like the Cayman S Porsche Design Edition 1 and the Boxster S Porsche Design Edition 2 which preceded this special Cayenne model, every Porsche Design Edition is supplied with unique Porsche Design accessories. The Porsche Design Chronograph watch exclusively matching each model, for example, stands for particular design values and style. In the case of the Porsche Design Edition 3, the Porsche Design Studio has created a Type P’6612 automatic chronograph featuring a light titanium casing measuring 42 millimetres in diameter and further enhanced by a metal strap with DLC (diamond-like carbon) coating. This special coating is carried over from racing engines and gives the titanium body of the watch its characteristic colour, while the exclusive face of the chronograph takes up striking design features from the interior of the Cayenne.

ProMotor Issue 04 - Page 11

WET PAINT

Mazda’s new best seller!

Mazda has been very busy of late, and have just debuted their all-new Mazda3 range for 2009 in Europe. Both the hatchback and sedan body styles are now in-tune with the recently launched Mazda6 we have in South Africa. In fact, the press release from Europe describes the Mazda3 as a “baby Mazda6�. And that is no bad thing, because South Africans have been showing their support of that model with their wallets.

and reduced weight of the new model making it more economic to run.

Highlights of the new Mazda3 are its fresh face, more aerodynamic profile, retuned power plants

By all accounts, this new Mazda3 is definitely worth waiting for!

ProMotor Issue 04 - Page 12

Quality has been upped: significant improvements to noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels, improvements in the rigidity of the sub frame and more substantial plate thickness to the engine mount brackets have resulted in a more refined driving experience.

WET PAINT

Making orange sexy!

Automobili Lamborghini has released the first photographs of a limited edition Murcielago, named the LP 650-4 Roadster. This Roadster version of the Murcielago will offer an uprated 6,5-litre V12 engine, pushing out 650 hp (478kW) along with permanent four-wheel drive: hence the model’s LP 650-4 moniker. With 660Nm of torque available at the slightest prod of the accelerator pedal, it is no surprise that sprinting from standstill to 100km/h takes only 3,4 seconds. Top speed is estimated at 330km/h!

This special edition model will be produced in a limited volume (50 units only), with a Grigio Telesto exterior that combines grey bodywork with a special bright orange Arancio LP 650-4 featured on the front spoiler and sills. The LP 650-4 logo applied to the car’s exterior is recognition of the car’s increased power.

The car features orange brake calipers and a transparent V12-engine cover, which shows off the V12 engine behind the driver.

Interior features echo the car’s striking grey-andorange exterior: besides the orange touches, there is an asymmetric dash design, with black Alcantara Nera on the driver’s side, including door panel and central tunnel, and black leather Nero Perseus on the passenger’s side.

The increased power of the Murcielago engine, from 640 to 650 hp, will be unique to the Murcielago LP 650-4 Roadster: it demonstrates even further the developments that Lamborghini is able to offer from a current engine, and creates the exclusive characteristic of the Murcielago LP 650-4 Roadster.

ProMotor Issue 04 - Page 13

LEGENDS 14: Porsche 917 racers/

WORDS: EVAN ROTHMAN

A Le Mans Icon

Forty years ago on March 13, 1969, at the Geneva International Motor Show, Porsche unveiled a car that, even by today’s standards, is underestimated when it is described as the “super sports car“. The Porsche 917 subsequently became a legend as one of the fastest and most successful racing cars of all time, and its 40th anniversary is celebrated this year with a special exhibit at the new Porsche Museum in Stuttgart and a 917 display at the 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed (3 - 5 July).

The Porsche 917 project started in June 1968 as a result of the FIA declaring a new class of “homologated sports cars” of up to 5,0-litre engine capacity and a minimum weight of 800kg. By April 1969, the stipulated 25 units of the new racing car model were completed so that it could begin its racing career in that same year. At a 1 000km race at the Osterreichring, Jo Siffert and Kurt Ahrens were named the winners, giving the Porsche 917 its first victory in only four starts.

To meet the various race track configurations and demands, the Porsche engineers developed a range of different body styles. The “Kurz” short-tail model was designed for twisty tracks where high downforce and traction were required, while the long-tail “Langheck” was designed for fast tracks to optimise its top ProMotor Issue 04 - Page 14

speed. And, a 917 Spyder was also produced, primarily for the CanAm and Interseries races.

Like the body styles the engine layout of the 917 racers were also different. In a mid-engine layout, a twelve-cylinder engine with horizontal cylinders (with a crankshaft that designated it as a 180-degree V engine. Pushing 520 hp, this 4,5-litre motor was brutally fast!

By the end of the 1970 racing season, the Porsche 917 and 908/03 models had won nine of ten events in the Racing Series World Championship (Markenweltmeisterschaft) on circuits that included Brands Hatch, Monza, Spa Francorchamps, Nurburgring, Targa Florio, Le Mans, Watkins Glen and Osterreichring.

This achievement was repeated in 1971, when the Porsche 917 won eight of the ten races to once more claim the Racing Series World Championship. In that year, a 917 long-tail coupe model set a top speed record on the Mulsanne straight, part of the Le Mans 24-hour race. It recorded the highest speed of 387km/h!

The model proved just as successful in Spyder form, taking numerous wins in the CanAm and Interseries events in North America.

“a legend of the as one of the fastest and most successful racing cars of all time”

NEW DAWN 16: Ford iosis MAX/

! e r u t u f e h t n w o d g in n Pin

NEW DAWN

Unveiled at the recent Geneva International Motor Show was a head-turning concept car from Ford. Named the iosis MAX, this concept is billed as a “dynamic Multi Activity Vehicle (MAV)” and features a fresh interpretation of Ford’s kinetic design form language. Not just a pretty face, the iosis Max showcases Ford’s latest developments in terms of efficiency and flexibility, WRITES EVAN ROTHMAN. Previewing Ford’s upcoming EcoBoost petrol engine (due in 2010), the iosis MAX is a study in lightweight materials, advanced aerodynamics and innovative solutions to current car design.

Complementing the new efficient engine the iosis MAX was mated to Ford’s PowerShift transmission which included Ford’s Auto-Stop-Start system (also due for 2010).

“The iosis MAX marks the next stage in the evolution of kinetic design, and showcases a number of affordable engine technologies that will make a difference to the environment and our customers’ pockets,” says Martin Smith, Ford of Europe’s Executive Design Director.

“Our designers have stretched themselves beyond the two previous iosis concepts, and have applied kinetic design form language to a MAV,” adds Smith. “The iosis MAX proves that cars in the compact MAV class can have emotive, dynamic styling without sacrificing their traditional virtues of practicality or efficiency – something that the larger and revolutionary S-MAX has already demonstrated.”

“Although the iosis MAX isn’t a forerunner to a specific production vehicle, it clearly highlights how kinetic design is evolving and can be applied with stunning results to all vehicles in the Ford portfolio.”

Designed to showcase Ford’s solutions to increase practicality and flexibility, the iosis MAX has useful

innovations… To help overcome common problems faced by owners when loading or unloading the vehicle in a confined space, such as a congested multi-storey car park, the concept features a unique two piece tailgate design. This allows the tailgate to be fully opened, even when there is restricted space behind or above the vehicle.

To further enhance the loading flexibility the iosis MAX features a B-pillarless design. This provides a wide and unobstructed load aperture when both the front and rear side doors are open. New opening kinematics are used in to create a dualfunction hood design, incorporating an active hood system for improved pedestrian protection and also greatly enhancing access to the engine bay.

It is not the quirky design that caught my attention, but it was the environmentallyfriendly power train under the hood that did.

This new powerplant showcases Ford’s efficient technologies, and demonstrates how reduced fuel consumption and CO2 emissions can be achieved without compromising dynamic performance.

The heart of this concept is a 1,6-litre 180PS four-cylinder petrol engine. It features turbo charging and direct injection technology to lower fuel consumption by up to 20 percent over similar sized petrol engines. The addition of the clever Auto-Stop-Start system, alternator and sixspeed Ford PowerShift double-clutch automated manual gearbox delivers maximum fuel efficiency.

According to Ford of Europe, this concept car is able to achieve a highly impressive CO2 emissions figure of 125g/km.

Coupled with its quirky looks, clever powerplant and use of lightweight materials, the Ford iosis MAX concept brings ideas to the forefront that highlight that to be environmentally friendly does not mean having to redesign cars as we know them. It is all rather clever, and friendly.

ProMotor Issue 04 - Page 17

SPORT 18:F1 Australia GP news/20 - 23:Wesbank Super Racing - Kyalami news/24:WRC Rally Portugal preview/26 - 29:SANRC Toyota Dealer Rally preview/30:Conrad Rautenbach interview/

OZ HAS STING IN TAIL FOR LEWIS! ProMotor Issue 04 - Page 18

SPORT The Formula One history books have been rewritten! Not since the French Grand Prix of 1954 has a debuting team finished 1-2, as Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello drove their Brawn GP BGP 001 cars across the finish line to record a fairy tale weekend for the one month old F1 team, WRITES EVAN ROTHMAN. In a flag-to-flag victory, Button took the chequered flag after a perfect and unhassled race at the front of the chasing field. However, behind him high drama and shattered expectations lay in his wake.

“It’s not just for me but for the whole team,” said Button. “This is a fary-tale ending, really, to the first race of our career together, and I hope the weekends continue this way. I know we’re going to fight every moment we can to keep this car competitive with the limited resources we have to keep it at the front because the whole team has done a great job, and this has got to continue because this is, I think, where we deserve to be, and we worked very, very hard for this.

Thank you very much to the team and bring on Malaysia.”

A dream 1-2 finish was not on the cards, until a late-race accident saw the BMW Sauber of Robert Kubica and the Red Bull of Sebastien Vettel take each other out of the action. This moved Button’s Brazilian team-mate Rubens Barrichello onto the podium.

Toyota impressed the entire F1 community with their outstanding pace this weekend. Jarno Trulli showed the pace the team has promised in 2008, and found himself on the podium for third place, but was subsequently penalised 25 seconds for illegally overtaking Lewis Hamilton (McLaren Mercedes) during a safety car period employed after the Kubica and Vettel accident. The 25-second penalty relegated Trulli to 12th overall. Trulli’s performance at Albert Park must be heralded here, as he and team-mate Timo Glock were forced to start the grand prix from the pitlane after their TF109s were found to not be within regulations in post-qualifying scrutineering. Tearing up from the back of the field, Trulli and Glock gave food for thought for the other team bosses. Glock rescued Toyota’s weekend with a strong fourth place result. This weekend has most definitely stepped up the Toyota F1 squad’s motivation levels… And to add even more to this story, in an FIA investigation it was found that Hamilton and his race engineer had “misinformed” the FIA. The FIA has now reversed its penalty on Trulli, and he has been re-instated as third-place finisher while Hamilton has been excluded from the event’s results!

Suffering from poor pace, the McLaren Mercedes team were lucky to score the third place result. Hamilton and team-mate Heikki Kovalainen were uncompetitive throughout the weekend, and found themselves at the bottom of the time sheets after qualifying.

Kovalainen’s dismal weekend deteriorated to even lower depths as he was taken out of the grand prix in the usual first corner crashes.

Hamilton’s talent and determination saw him claw his way through the field to claim much needed points, but the FIA hearing has left McLaren in much the same situation as Ferrari: zero points on the scoreboard!

Another disappointment were the Ferrari boys. Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa both retired from the race with mechanical problems, and it is sad to say that they were not performing as they should be.

A new guard has most definitely entered F1, and it has come at the perfect time.

Great things are expected of Fernando Alonso (Renault) in 2009, and he started off his new campaign by finishing fifth overall. Not far behind him were the tow other Sebastien’s, Buemi and Bourdais.

Team-mates at Torro Rosso, Buemi lived up to pre-season hype by outpacing his partner!

One place from the points, Adrian Sutil showcased his Force India car’s new Mercedes power to bring it home in ninth. Team-mate Giancarlo Fisichela finished in eleventh, and wrapped up a promising weekend for the Indian team.

The F1 teams now head to Kuala Lumpur for the Malaysian Grand Prix this weekend. You can bet your last R50 that Button and Barrichello will be pushing their Brawn GP cars to their limits to pull off another dream weekend… And the odds are stacked in their favour, as there is little or no time to reasonably improve a car’s dynamics: this is god news the likes of Brawn and Toyota, but spells bleak news for Ferrari and McLaren.

ProMotor Issue 04 - Page 19

SPORT

Auby and Correia families dominate Wesbank V8 Racing

The Auby and Correia family racers with a win apiece came out tops in Round 2 of the WesBank V8 Supercar Series at Kyalami on Saturday.

Reigning champion Hennie Groenewald (Team Timken Jaguar) who returned from testing in America late on Friday night now has an even higher mountain to climb to win his 4th title. He was involved in a 3-car collision at the start of Race 1 and retired. In Race 2 he touched Marc Auby (ELT International Jaguar) to eventually come home 8th in an overheating car.

Race 1 was led off the line by Marc Auby with his father Deon (ELT International Lumina) in tow after the crash in turn 2 took out younger son, Brandon, Hennie Groenewald and his team-mate Richard Pinard (Timken Motorsport Jaguar).

Terry Wilford (Fuchs Titan Lubricants Jaguar) with an improved handling car kept the leading Auby’s in sight with East London Wade van Zummeren (Border Towing Mustang), Franco di Matteo (Varta Batteries Jaguar) and a returning Roof of Africa Motorcycle Winner Jade Gudzeit (Dezzi Trysome Mustang) in 6th. With just two laps to go, Deon ProMotor Issue 04 - Page 20

Auby took over the lead from his son, who was slowing fractionally to record a fully deserved win.

For three glorious laps Clare Vale (Gatorback/RAM Mustang) led Race 2 with the reverse grid start in operation. Then Deon Auby coming up fast through the field clipped her car, leaving Jaco Correia and his brother Danie in the LiquiMoly Corvettes to come home for an historic and happy family victory. Jaco hadn’t won for three years.

Marc Auby could just not catch them in the last few laps. At the finish from third place he was relegated to 11th spot after he touched Des Gutzeit (Dezzi Trysome Mustang) on the passing lines under braking. He is disputing this penalty.

Jade Gudzeit, Steve Smith (Coolcatz Jaguar) and Wade van Zummeren were moved up to 3rd, 4th and 5th positions.

- CREDIT: Motorsport Correspondent RESULTS: RACE 1 01) D. Auby 02) M.Auby 03) T. Wilford 04) W. van Zummeren 05) F. di Matteo

RACE 2 01) J. Correia 02) D. Correia 03) J. Gudzeit 04) S. Smith 05) W. van Zummeren

SPORT

Fierce racing in Production Cars A scorching hot Highveld sun greeted the Production Car brigade for round two of the 2009 season at Kyalami.

The start lights went out for race one, and it wasn’t long before Poulter muscled ahead of Fourie, who then fell back into the grasp of Taylor, who relegated him even further back. Olivier grabbed third, ahead of the ailing Fourie who had his hands full with Priest all over him in fifth. Watson-Smith having started from the back of the grid was next followed by Da Cunha, ahead of Wolk.

Stephen, who had also started from the back was soon in the pits.

By lap 5, Fourie had clawed his way past Olivier, who repassed him a lap later. The two were embroiled in a dingdong battle for third, which looked certain to end in tears.

Fourie managed a last gasp move to clinch a thrilling 3rd place when Olivier went wide, upon exiting Nashua, which allowed the train of following cars to get through.

Class T was headed by the talented Reghard Roets. He held off a determined Graeme Nathan who finished well clear of Gary Formato. Curt Alchin did well to hold onto the leading pack but slipped back with a puncture. With his demise, Heinz Bose took fourth whilst battling with Michael van Rooyen. The two drivers entertained the crowds until Bose slowed with tyre problems. Michael van Rooyen inherited a well deserved 4th ahead of Shaun Duminy, who beat off the attentions of Peet Visagie and Etienne Prinsloo.

The partially reversed grid in race 2 meant that the top 4 places in class A were reversed placing Priest on pole, followed by Fourie, Taylor and Poulter. The all-Audi front row pairing were determined to shut out the rear-wheel drive cars and give themselves a decent start. By turn 2, Taylor had blasted into the lead followed by Priest, Fourie and Poulter. Poulter attacked Fourie at every opportunity, without success, for the initial laps. Taylor began opening a sizeable lead. Lap 3 saw a touch between Fourie and Poulter which relegated Fourie to 7th and Poulter to retirement.

This altercation moved Watson-Smith up to 3rd and Olivier to 4th. They were followed by da Cunha, with Wolk 6th. Da Cunha retired on lap 7 with an electrical fault, moving Wolk to 5th and Stephen, the final runner 6th.

Class T was a humdinger from start to finish. A race of attrition that saw the demise of many of the favourites.

Shaun Duminy was the pole-man, followed by an open space for Michael van Rooyen. Michael didn’t get his Golf out of the pitlane in time and started from the back of the grid. A storming drive, among the best class T drives for years, saw Michael charge from the back to third place by lap 3.

By the start of lap 2, Duminy was history and Formato had the lead. Nathan was putting him under huge pressure. Lap 7 saw a change in the front, with Formato slowing. Nathan grabbed the lead, and Formato soon came under attack from the rampant van Rooyen.

Formato disappeared altogether on lap 9 with his second place being taken by an impressive Peet Visagie, who managed to keep Michael van Rooyen behind him to the flag.

- CREDIT: Motorsport Correspondent RESULTS RACE 1: 01) L. Poulter 02) A. Taylor 03) J. Fourie 04) M. Priest 05) S. Watson-Smith

RACE 2: 01) A. Taylor 02) M. Priest 03) S. Watson-Smith 04) D. Olivier 05) J. Fourie ProMotor Issue 04 - Page 21

SPORT

Action aplenty for Polo drivers at Kyalami The Engen Volkswagen Cup series saw some intense competition during round two of the national championship at Kyalami in Johannesburg on Saturday.

It was Mathew Hodges and his PG Glass Polo that proved the most successful on the day with a firstplace finish in race one and a follow-up victory in the second race to claim an unchallenged overall victory over the field. For Hodges the first race victory was helped by drawing first place on the grid after qualifying in first – an indication that luck was on his side for the Kyalami event.

The second race draw put Hodges in third on the grid and it was from here that the race developed into a spectacular battle between the PG Glass entry and the defending champion, Jared Mortimer in the Formsfit/Liquid Lounge car. In the dying stages of the race, Hodges moved in to sneak past Mortimer for first.

Mortimer responded almost immediately by reclaiming the lead just corners later. Hodges then returned the favour and managed to regain the lead as the two racers did the final dash for the finish line.

When the chequered flag dropped there was just 0.232 of a second between them.

This event was also the first time that Gennaro Bonafede and his Champion Spark Plugs entry have shown a return to form. Bonafede claimed second overall for the day with a second place in race one and a third in the second race. For some time Bonafede’s car has been problematic and it was finally traced to a small bolt that had found its way into the sump and was interfering with the ECU pickup.

The Kyalami result seems to indicate that his “Koeberg” moment is now over and race fans can expect to see him back to his point-scoring form with a serious chance at the championship title. This is not going to be easy however as the third placed finisher on Saturday was none other than Mortimer.

Mortimer’s 2008 championship title has given him a taste for more of the same and the only guarantee is that he plans on gathering even more points during the defense of his title win last season. Typical of this single-make series though, the action was certainly not restricted to the front of the field.

Marcel (Kosie) Weyers and his Engen Xtreme Polo also suffered gear problems and his gearbox was changed between races. Weyers is one of the newer drivers in this series and experienced a trial-by-fire at Kyalami, rolling his Volkswagen Polo during practise on Friday. His team repaired the damage and he went on to achieve a 17th and a 10th place for the day.

There were several more noteworthy moments during the two Engen Volkswagen Cup races, and no doubt these will have a bearing on what happens during round three which takes place in Cape Town on Saturday, 9 May. The only way to be sure though will be to see the action first-hand.

- CREDIT: Motorsport Correspondent ProMotor Issue 04 - Page 22

SPORT

Single-seater races take it to the limit in Formula Volkswagen

The Formula Volkswagen singleseater racing series produced the excitement expected at Kyalami during round two of the first championship season for these racers. The return of Christiano Morgado in his City of Durban entry proved every bit as dramatic as expected.

He immediately claimed pole position for both races and proceeded to make good on this start by also claiming both race victories.

For Morgado though, it is still a matter of playing catch-up.

Jayde Kruger (5) and his Motul / First Freight car claimed two

race victories at the first round at Aldo Scribante Raceway in Port Elizabeth, this gives each of these racers two victories.

It quickly became evident from the Kyalami event that there is an interesting season ahead for this single-make series. While Morgado led both races, he didn’t have it all his own way. Wesleigh Orr in the Global Consulting Solutions entry and Simon Moss in the Southern Sun/Oakley car are both potential threats.

Orr completed race one in second place but an engine cowling that came loose during the second race put paid to his chances of

mounting another challenge. For Moss, a spin in the first race put him out of contention while it also factored into the result of race two.

Moss also had another incident, this time while overtaking Robert Briggs in the BP Ultimate car.

While there was tussle between the top four racers, further down the field the drivers were involved in a battle of their own.

The Formula Volkswagen championship has again delivered on the very high speed racing action that marks single-seater racing and more can be expected when the series competes at Killarney in Cape Town during round three in May. - CREDIT: Motorsport Correspondent ProMotor Issue 04 - Page 23

SPORT

Will Portugal prove more successful for Ford?

BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team begins the second quarter of its FIA World Rally Championship campaign in Portugal this weekend with subtle improvements to its record-breaking Focus RS World Rally Car. As the series heads to the Iberian Peninsula for Rally de Portugal (2 - 5 April), the British-based squad will introduce a revised engine for the first time in competition.

The newly-homologated powerplant available to drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen and team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila includes an electric water pump and a lightweight flywheel. During a comprehensive testing programme, the drivers have reported a slight improvement in outright engine performance from the upgrades.

This fourth round of the 12-event championship marks a return to the calendar for one of the sport’s classic events after a year’s absence and heralds the start of the gravel element of the season in earnest. Traditionally based on Portugal’s west coast, the event was reborn in the WRC in 2007 in the Algarve holiday region in the south. It is based on the edge of Faro and the speed tests in the hills above the town blend fast, open roads with more technical sections on hard tracks, which are abrasive in the dry.

“I’m confident of matching the pace I showed then because my speed, especially on the drier sections, gave me plenty of belief for the gravel events to come. The engine upgrades are another step forward. Although the nature of the regulations means huge steps forward are impossible to achieve, there is more power and a bit more response and that will all help,” said Hirvonen.

“They are enjoyable stages to drive and Portugal is the rally I like most in the southern Europe and Mediterranean regions. The roads will be abrasive if conditions are dry because some sections have a solid bedrock base with a sandy surface on top. You don’t see many loose rocks compared to Greece and Turkey, but the hard base does make it hard for tyres,” he added.

Latvala was eighth two years ago and the 23year-old is relishing a series of seven consecutive ProMotor Issue 04 - Page 24

gravel events. “The start to the season was tough, and the rallies in Ireland and Cyprus were probably the most difficult I will face this year.

Now we start the gravel events which comprise the bulk of the championship and I’m happy about that. I’ve tested the new engine and while it’s not always easy to feel small improvements behind the wheel, I’m sure we will see them in our times,” he said.

“The road surface is very abrasive and hard for the tyres, but it gives good grip. The tracks aren’t rough and the stages contain a mix of narrow sections and wider areas. It’s important to be careful on the exit of corners because there are often small trees on the outside waiting to catch a driver who slides wide so keeping the driving line precise is crucial,” added the Finn.

Abu Dhabi’s Khalid Al Qassimi and Michael Orr will drive a third Focus RS WRC for the team. Al Qassimi has finished in the points on both his outings this season and this will be the 37-yearold’s debut in Portugal. “Tackling a rally for the first time is always a difficult challenge. It takes time to understand the characteristics of the roads and a driver is always at a disadvantage against rivals who have previous experience. It’s important to make the most of the opportunity and drive all the stages. An early retirement on either of the first two days can mean missing well over a third of the rally’s distance and that’s a lot of experience to miss out on,” said Al Qassimi.

Organisers have made many changes since 2007 and more than 52 per cent of the competitive distance is new, including two all-new stage venues. The rally is again based at Estádio Algarve, just outside the holiday resort of Faro, which was built for the 2004 European Soccer Championships. As well as hosting the single service park, the stadium complex also holds a super special stage to begin the action on Thursday evening and a repeat test to end the event on Sunday afternoon. The bulk of the stages are based in the Serra do Caldeirão hills, north of Faro. Each leg comprises two identical loops of stages split by a return to the service park. The second leg is the longest and most northerly of the three days. Drivers tackle 18 stages covering 361.36km in a route of 1164.99km.

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SPORT

Motorite Racing takes on Toyota Dealer Rally!

The Motorite Racing pairing of Evan Hutchison and Elvene Coetzee takes on the second round of the Sasol SA Rally Championship, the Toyota Dealer Rally, in the Caledon area of the Western Cape this weekend (April 3 and 4) in their class A7 Toyota RunX. Despite being hampered by a persistent misfire that slowed their progress throughout, Hutchison and Coetzee finished third in class in their first national championship outing together in the opening round in KwaZulu Natal in March.

Hutchison also competes in the Absa national off road championship in the special vehicle category in a Motorite Racing Revo 1 4wd prototype and, together with Achim Bergmann (who designed and built the Revo) won the opening round in Darling in the Western Cape in March in the Revo’s debut outing.

“It’s quite hectic competing in both championships, with preparation of the two very different cars taking up a lot of our time,” said Hutchison, who won the 2007 off road championship with Bergmann in a BAT Spec 4

ProMotor Issue 04 - Page 26

special. “While we have contested the off road championship for the past four years, this is only our second year in rallying and we’re still on a learning curve.

“We had a good run in the Tour Natal Rally three weeks ago apart from the intermittent misfire.

It was very frustrating as Elvene and I had completed a successful rallysprint in Bapsfontein as part of our pre-season preparations (the pair was fastest on the day) and we were looking forward to a more competitive outing. As it turned out, we took advantage of the misfortunes of some of our class A7 rivals.”

The Toyota Dealer Rally starts from Helderberg Toyota in Strand at 09.30 on Friday and includes three gravel special stages in the Caledon area before returning to Brackenfell for the traditional tarmac stage in the Pick n Pay Hypermarket parking area at 17.00.

It restarts at 07.00 on Saturday and returns to the Caledon area for another five gravel special stages before finishing back at Helderberg Toyota on Saturday afternoon.

SPORT

t i h g u o r o t a s y k n c i e h K C Rally fari Rally in on Sa

The 57th running of the Safari Rally in Kenya next weekend (3 - 5 April), round two of the FIA African Rally Championship, sees South African rallying sisters Lola and Megan Verlaque flying the South African flag in one of the most famous rallies in the world.

The Rally Chicks, who finished fourth overall in the opening round of the ARC in Tanzania in February in their debut outing in their newly acquired ex-works class S2000 VW Polo, are the only allwoman team contesting the championship and are the sole representatives from South Africa.

They finished fourth overall in the 2008 ARC and are determined to improve on this performance in 2009.

Since their excellent performance in Tanzania, the sisters have also finished the opening round of the South African national rally championship, the Tour Natal Rally in March, in seventh place in the highly competitive S2000 class.

“After just two events this year I’m still learning how to drive this car,” said Lola. “It’s very different to the Subaru and Mitsubishi class N4 production cars we have been rallying up to now.

It’s a real racing car with brakes that really work

and it keeps us very busy in the cockpit and very much on our toes,” said Lola.

“It’s going to take quite a few events to get to know this new car and learn how to drive it properly, so we’re looking forward to another three days’ seat time in Kenya this weekend,” she added.

The KCB Safari Rally traditionally takes place around Easter time and, in the days when it was a round of the World Rally Championship (from 1973 to 2002) and was known as the East African Safari Rally, has been won by illustrious names like Finland’s Ari Vatanen, Hannu Mikkola, Juha Kankkunen, Italy’s Miki Biasion, Spain’s Carlos Sainz and Scotland’s Colin McRae – all world champions.

This weekend’s Safari Rally starts at 13.00 on Friday from the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi and finishes in Nairobi on Sunday afternoon. The route will take competitors some 700 km, including 300 km of competitive dirt special stages, through the Nakuru, Lake Elementaita, Delaware Farms and Athi River regions.

- CREDIT: Motorsport Correspondent ProMotor Issue 04 - Page 27

SPORT

Wilken aims for victory in round two in Western Cape!

The Sasol/Konica Minolta Rally Team arrives in Cape Town for the second round of the Sasol SA Rally Championship on top of the Production Car and Class N4 championship points tables after a stunning drive to second overall on the Total Tour Natal Rally last month.

Charl Wilken and Greg Godrich got their title defense off to the best possible start with a career-best overall placing, and have set their sights just as high for the next round.

“We were a bit lucky to finish on the podium in Kwazulu Natal because of the issues that the VW team had, but the intensity of competition could well hand us another set of similar circumstances”, said Wilken. “It’s great to be on the podium especially because our Prodrive car had some new car handling issues that we didn’t have time to sort out”.

Wilken continued: “I expect we’ll be much quicker in the Cape after doing a bit of testing to get the handling more to my liking, so I can build confidence in the car, knowing it will go where I want it to and not catch me off-guard. The Cape events have generally been good to us.

I like the very fast nature of the stages so I expect we’ll be up there”.

Wilken’s main title rival Hein Lategan and Johan van der Merwe have withdrawn from rallying with immediate effect after landing a top factory drive in the off-road racing series.

Wilken commented: “It’s bad news for rallying and bad news for us as Hein has consistently been our strongest competition over the past season. The whole Sasol/Konica Minolta Team wishes him well in his new field of competition.

Visser du Plessis and co-driver Gerhard Snyman, driving a similar Pirtek-backed Prodrive Impreza ProMotor Issue 04 - Page 28

to Wilken, had a good run in Kwazulu Natal until the gearbox broke on day two.

Tjaart Coetzee, a newcomer to national rallying should make his Cape debut in the ex-Visser du Plessis Impreza (old shape) and with an as yet un-named co-driver, will be aiming to bank experience and add more points to his score card. Zimbabwean Chase Atwell/Brian Carrihill (Jonnesway Subaru) hope to get to the end of the event with a brand new motor to replace the one that detonated in the streets of Pinetown three weeks ago.

The Western Cape Regional Rally Champions, John Peiser/Brian Hoskins (Speed Cycling Components Impreza GT) aim to finish inside the top 20 points scoring positions, but more importantly for them, win the WC regional category which runs within the national championship event.

Class N3 for front wheel drive cars should see the Sasol Toyota RunX of Dave Compton and new codriver Pierre Jordaan dominate proceedings.

The Germistonbased husbandand-wife team of Riaan/Hester Erasmus runs the championshipwinning ex Rodney Visagie machine so should challenge hard for the win. Capetonians Abduraghman Amlay/Yusuf Ganief and Duncan English/AN Other round out the production car runners.

The Toyota Dealer Rally starts from Helderberg Toyota in Strand on Friday morning at 09h30 and takes crews into the countryside for three stages before returning to Cape Town for the Hypermarket Brackenfell tarmac stage. Saturday’s early 7am start sees crews heading back to Caledon for five stages before heading back to the Strand finish by mid-afternoon.

- CREDIT: Motorsport Correspondent

SPORT

BP Volkswagen Rally Team to mount Western Cape challenge Defending national South African champions, the BP Volkswagen rally team tackle round two of the 2009 season in the Western Cape on Friday and Saturday, 3 and 4 April. This event will see the team aim to better their third and fourth place result from round one.

In the 2008 season the BP Volkswagen team claimed the top three positions in the national rally championship, with Hergen Fekken and navigator Pierre Arries claiming the national rally title. The team aims to repeat this performance in 2009, but in motorsport plans rarely work out as expected.

Fekken and Arries put in a solid performance at the first round of the 2009 season in Kwa-Zulu Natal, claiming third overall for the event. This result took a great deal of effort to produce as a delay in the first stage served to put them on the wrong side of the clock.

This delay was the result of their teammates, Enzo

Kuun and Guy Hodgson who were the lead BP Volkswagen S2000 Polo at the start of the event.

Kuun and Hodgson came within a hair’s breadth of rolling their S2000 BP Volkswagen Polo during a hard cornering manoeuvre through a tight righthand turn that dropped suddenly downhill early in the first stage.

While Kuun managed to prevent the roll, the suspension was damaged when the car landed back on its wheels. This forced their rally car to a stop and the narrow roads of the sugar cane stages ensured that no-one could pass their stranded car until it was moved with the help of spectators.

This meant that the next two cars on the scene – both BP Volkswagen Polo entries – were delayed while waiting for the road to be cleared. With this incident, the BP Volkswagen team lost one of their three S2000 entries and the remaining two had to fight hard on the stages to claw back lost time.

For Habig and Judd the challenge was made even more difficult when they incurred a time penalty on exiting the service park. This relegated them to fourth overall by the end of the event.

With the action of round one behind them, the focus is firmly on regaining lost ground in round two and furthering the aims of the season. Fekken and Arries find themselves in fairly good shape with their podium finish while Habig and Judd are not far behind – just two points in fact.

For Kuun and Hodgson the challenge now is to get on to the scoreboard and to catch up to their teammates to keep the blue and green of all three BP Ultimate-powered rally cars at the front of the field.

In the class A5 category, where the BP Volkswagen team fields two cars, the KZN event proved a successful outing. Just one round into the season and already the team have claimed the championship lead. Both entries are piloted by championship-winning competitors and it appears that the 2009 season is set to be a fight between teammates for class honours.

Gugu Zulu and Carl Peskin – class A5 winners in 2007 – have taken an early lead after some serious competition in the sugar cane. Right on their heels in the second BP Volkswagen A5 Citi Golf is André Cleenwerck and Des de Fortier who claimed the class title in 2008.

Cleenwerck and De Fortier had to change a gearbox on Friday night, day one of the KZN event, and spent the rest of the rally trying to catch the leaders. The Western Cape event should see a very interesting battle develop between these two cars as neither team is willing to finish in second place this season.

While rallying in the Western Cape will be an opportunity to see the two A5 Citi Golf entries racing against one another, this is a fight that is set to last throughout the 2009 season.

There are nine stages of tough competition waiting in the Western Cape, one team, five entries and two classes of competition. The BP Volkswagen team is ready for the challenge and out to show, once again, just how tough they are in national rally competition.

- CREDIT: Motorsport Correspondent ProMotor Issue 04 - Page 29

SPORT

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: CONRAD RAUTENBACH! The rising WRC driver speaks to PROMOTOR about his career, meeting Loeb and Finland.

WORDS: EVAN ROTHMAN

01) Driving in the world’s most prestigious and competitive rally championship must be your dream come true. What are your thoughts and feelings whenever you climb into your WRC car?

CR: Ya, it’s a great privilege and it’s been my dream for a very long time. When I’m actually in the car before the stage I try not think of anything and just focus on the task ahead.

02) What are your memorable rallying moments in WRC so far this year?

CR: Norway rally was just awesome, it’s such a great feeling driving on the snow you can really push hard and lean on the snow banks, it’s so different form what I’m used to coming from Africa.

03) How do you see your season pan out?

CR: The first three rallies have probably been the hardest of the season, so hopefully it will get a bit easier and we can push a bit more. We want to try score as many points as possible for ourselves and the team and set some top times.

04) Do you often interact with the Citroen drivers? Is Sebastien Loeb really a nice bloke?

CR: Ya, we service next the the M1 team and sometimes I go to their tests. All the drivers are ProMotor Issue 04 - Page 30

really nice blokes and everyone gets on well.

05) The pressures and expectations on you must be enormous…

CR: There is more pressure this year driving for the Citroen Junior Team and getting nominated to score manufacture points but most of the pressure comes from myself.

06) There is great talent rising up through the ranks in world rallying. Who do you think will be the next star rallying fans and competitors should look out for?

CR: There are a lot of good drivers coming up so its hard to keep a track on everyone but I think the Pirelli Star drivers have a great opportunity so they should do well.

07) What makes a rally driver a rally driver?

What characteristics do rally drivers possess

SPORT that other motor sport competitors don’t?

CR: I think the big difference with rallying is that the stages are always different and the condition of them is always changing and you can’t remember 30km of stage so you have to listen and trust your co-driver.

08) It must be a busy office to sit in, the driver’s seat of your rally car. Can you tell us about your rally car?

CR: When everything is working perfectly it’s all in slow motion but when things go wrong it happens very quickly! All the important buttons and switches are on the steering wheel like an F1 car so everything is easy to reach and use.

09) You have a great driving style. What tips can you offer young rallying drivers in terms of setting quick and consistent stage times?

CR: I think the key is to get a good balance between attacking hard and being neat and tidy.

You also need to get a good rhythm and work well

wanted to be a WRC driver and hopefully world champion someday.

11) After a strong finish recently, what do you think you need to do to climb onto the podium?

CR: To get on to podium in the WRC I think everything has to be perfect with car, the driver and co-driver and the team and you also need a bit of luck. I’m working hard on my fitness and with the team to improve all the time so hopefully by the end of the season we can put together a great result or two.

12) What are your predictions for the 2009 season?

CR: It’s hard to predict the whole season so I’m just taking it one rally at a time but finishing in the top 8 would be good.

13) What is your favourite event on the?

And, why?

CR: I would have to say it’s between Finland and Argentina, Finland because the roads are fantastic it’s just so crazy fast and all the big jumps and flat crests. Argentina because the atmosphere is great the fans are crazy and the terrain reminds me a lot of back home in Zimbabwe.

14) The glory days of the current WRC cars are numbered. From 2010, they will be running S2000-spec rally cars. What are your

with your co-driver.

10) What was your main motivation in entering rallying? What are your career aspirations?

CR: My farther used to rally and I used to watch and go in the car with him when ever I could so I guess I caught the bug from him. I’ve always

views on this?

CR: I think if it brings more manufactures and makes it cheaper I have no problem at all. Ok, the cars won’t be as fast but they are more mechanical without all the electronics so should be better to watch and they sound great. It doesn’t really matter what the cars are the top drivers in the world will always push them to the limit and that makes it exciting!

ProMotor Issue 04 - Page 31

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