ProMotor Issue 2

ProMotor your FREE environmentally friendly motoring magazine

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March 2009 - Issue 02

2009 CAR OF THE YEAR WINNER HONDA ACCORD

Todt bids farewell to Ferrari

BREAKING NEWS

Gauteng Motorsport Company announces Partnership with BMW Sauber F1 Team....

Who’s the boss: Triple Performance Shootout MORE MOTORSPORT NEWS

Gemmel The wins Natal “LOEB SHOW” Rally Rally Chicks Up A Gear

Brawn GP Leads Testing

www.promotor.co.za

Lategan joins Castrol Toyota

REGULARS 10 WET PAINT

ROLLS-ROYCE 200EX NEW LAGONDA BMW ALPINA D3 NEW VW POLO

14 LEGENDS 18 STUFF 20 SPORT KIND THANKS TO CONTRIBUTORS: Motorpics HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS Newspress

FEATURES

ProMotor

04 HONDA ACCORD

your FREE environmentally friendly motoring magazine

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March 2009 - Issue 02

2009 CAR OF THE YEAR WINNER HONDA ACCORD

Meet the 2009 Car of the Year winner!

06 ASTON MARTIN One-77 Drop-dead gorgeous! The new stunner from the British blokes that is set to dominate!

10 SHOOTOUT: GT CARS

Subscribe to ProMotor for FREE: Register your e-mail address at www.promotor.co.za or sms “Promotor” and your e-mail address to 34599 (sms costs R2).

Todt bids farewell to Ferrari

BREAKING NEWS

Gauteng Motorsport Company announces Partnership with BMW Sauber F1 Team....

Who’s the boss: Triple Performance Shootout MORE MOTORSPORT NEWS

Gemmel The wins Natal “LOEB SHOW” Rally Rally Chicks Up A Gear

Brawn GP Leads Testing

www.promotor.co.za

Lategan joins Castrol Toyota

ProMotor

Editor: Evan Rothman evanrothman@gmail.com 083 452 6892 General Manager: Anton Wannenburg anton@promotor.co.za 082 929 6120

s e k a r b d Han &Hairpins world of e th to in t h ig s in r u o y

rallying

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 04:Honda Accord wins COTY 2009/06:Aston Martin One-77/ 08:Super Car Shootout/

Honda Accord scoops prestigious South African COTY 2009 award!

ProMotor Issue 01 - Page 04

FEATURE SAGMJ full members, followed by a vote by the COTY jury, arrived at nine finalists towards the end of last year. The COTY jury, made up of the top motoring journalists in the country, then put the finalists through three days of testing in January and subjected them to a rigid scoring process.

The final audited scores showed Honda’s mid-sized sedan as the eventual winner of what is widely considered to be the most prestigious accolade in the motor industry. The SAGMJ, a professional body of qualified motoring writers, has annually awarded the title of SA’s Car of the Year for 24 years.

The Honda Accord beat off strong competition from the Ford Fiesta 1.6 Trend 5-dr, Suzuki Swift 1.5 GLS, Mazda6 2.5 Individual, Jaguar XF 3.0 V6 Premium Luxury A/T, VW Tiguan1.4TSI Trend and Fun 4Motion, Audi A4 1.8T Ambition multitronic, Honda Jazz 1.5 EX and Suzuki SX4 2.0 which were the finalists vying for honours in the country’s premier motoring event.

Much of the evaluation process took place at the Gerotek vehicle test facility outside Pretoria, making the South African Car of the Year competition unique amongst similar accolades awarded globally because of the extensive testing which takes place in a controlled environment. The contenders are also evaluated taking their direct market rivals into account and are therefore judged in their segments rather than against each other.

The South African Guild of Motoring Journalists (SAGMJ) announced the Honda Accord 2.4 Executive as South Africa’s 2009 Car of the Year (COTY) at a gala banquet at Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand, on Tuesday 17 March. The awards function, hosted by competition sponsor WesBank, was attended by the who’s who of the South African motoring industry.

The announcement of the prestigious accolade comes after a stringent process of voting and physical testing of eligible cars launched onto the SA market between 21 October 2007 and 31 October 2008. An in-depth poll of the

By definition, the SA Car of the Year should evoke automotive passion and excitement to make it a truly outstanding car both in its class and in the whole market.

The COTY competition is about automotive excellence and the winning car must score highly in its class across a variety of categories including those which reflect value for money, safety, dynamics, technology and aesthetics. It should also demonstrate that it strives towards representing innovation and ingenuity in marketing and engineering in its class and should represent a brave step forward in motoring, preferably setting new benchmarks in its market segment. The winner must show that is truly worthy of the ultimate accolade and the singular title of ‘The South African Car of the Year’.

The COTY competition is sponsored

by WesBank, with support sponsorship from Total South Africa.

ProMotor Issue 01 - Page 05

THOSE BRIT BOYS HAVE OUTDONE THEMSELVES, INNIT?

There are not many cars that get this jaded motoring journalists’ heart beating fast lately, but a British motoring manufacturer has re-ignited my motoring passions… I am planning to rob a bank so I may park this car, not in my garage, but in my lounge.

WORDS: EVAN ROTHMAN. Aston Martin debuted the stunningly beautiful One-77 at the Geneva International Motor Show earlier this month, with Chassis No. 1 showcasing this car’s attention to detail and engineering innovations.

ProMotor Issue 01 - Page 06

FEATURE unique capabilities and passion of our designers, engineers and technical partners.

“Quite simply it had to be the ultimate expression of Aston Martin,” said Dr Bez. As you can now see, we have achieved that goal in magnificent style.”

Chris Porritt, One-77 Programme Manager continued: “We wanted to create something that wows you as much when you see what’s under the skin as the exterior styling itself. We started by identifying the most technologically exciting front-engined, rear-wheel drive cars in the world: those from the DTM race series. We then applied the principles and technology that feature heavily in their design and translated it to a road car application.”

Under the hand rolled panels is a lightweight and stiff carbon fibre monocoque that was conceived and designed at Aston Martin’s Gaydon HQ, England. Furthermore, the One-77 employs a classic formula of double wishbones at each corner, an inboard suspension front and rear with pushrods used for vertical suspension movements to the horizontally mounted spring/damper units.

This format is taken from racing car design, resulting in a reduction in unsprung weight and the ability to package the suspension components more effectively.

These dampers are fully adjustable and feature a new system Aston Martin calls Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve (DSSV). Special valves are state-of-the-art and use high-precision machined components to enable the shockabsorbing characteristics of the damper to be changed without having to remove them from the car.

For service excellence, the One-77 will be redefining this aspect of vehicle ownership. Once this rare car is delivered to its owner, the car’s suspension characteristics will be precisely setup by Aston Martin engineers to suit their exact requirements, from settings suitable for longdistance touring to track day racing.

In the case of most of these super cars, the looks are more than backed up by its performance intentions. And in this regard, the One-77’s chassis is mated to a potent 7,3-litre V12 powerplant.

Swapping cogs is sure to be an efficient and thrilling experience, for this Aston Martin is equipped with a new six-speed gearbox with paddle shifters mounted on the steering wheel.

The One-77 has been described by Aston Martin as its definitive sports car, one that “epitomises everything Aston Martin from technology, the hand-craftsmanship of the hand rolled aluminium panels to the attention to detail.” All you and I need to know is that this car is equipped with the latest advanced technology, exotic materials and an exquisite interior.

Boss at Aston Martin, Dr Ulrich Bez, is proud of this new vision. “Right from the very beginning of the project the vision for One-77 was very simple: It had to combine high-technology with hand-built craftsmanship, and demonstrate the

All importantly, stopping power too has been re-engineered for this powerful machine. Aston Martin’s lightweight Carbon Ceramic Matrix brake technology has been transferred to the One-77.

The internals of the calipers have been designed to transmit less heat from the brake pads into the brake fluid, while the discs themselves have been developed to ensure the maximum possible contact area b between the face of the disc and the brake pads from improved stopping power.

The purity of its front-engined, rear wheel drive, two-seater coupe layout, the agility and responsiveness of the naturally aspirated V12 engine and carbon fibre chassis promises an unrivalled driving experience. For me, I just want to drool over it!

ProMotor Issue 01 - Page 07

FEATURE

Shootout: Which GT car is best?

There are not many cars in this world that can wear a GT badge with honour. A GT, or Gran Turismo to the uninitiated, is a machine that can effortlessly sweep across continents conveying their passengers in the absolute lap of luxury…

This is no mean feat; there are a number of car makers who have failed at this task, but in this article I have narrowed it down to three of the best. Now it is time for a showdown, WRITES EVAN ROTHMAN. In alphabetical order, here are the contenders: Aston Martin’s DB9 V12 Coupe, the Ferrari 599 GTB 6,0-litre V12 and Porsche’s 911 Turbo Coupe.

Place your bets now!

All three of these machines are priced well over R1,5 million, with the DB9 price closer to R3 million mark. There are no shortcuts to motoring nirvana, in my opinion. The British car is by far the sexier looking machine, with swooping lines, a wind-cheating profile and eye-catching flair

ProMotor Issue 01 - Page 08

detailing. It is under the bonnet that I am most impressed: its massive 6,0-litre V12 engine pushes out a whopping 335kW of power and 570Nm of torque. This enables it to sprint from 0-100km/h in only 4,9 seconds and reach a top speed of 300km/h.

The Italian beast is blessed with a typically beautiful styling we have come to expect from this exotic marque - have the Italians ever produced an average-looking Ferrari before? Of the three cars in this shootout, the Ferrari looks more the GT tourer than the rest, and is also the most powerful to boot! Who can argue with 456kW of power hammering at the rear wheels? This awesome power is further aided by the 608Nm of torque, resulting in a car that would rip up the asphalt were it not for its super sticky rubber footprint. This same motor was installed into the limited edition Ferrari Enzo, and we all know that that car is peerless… Performance figures are hard to come by, but it has been tested hitting 100km/

FEATURE

h from standstill in under four seconds, and is capable of flying past the 300km/h mark on its speedo with relative ease… This car is scary fast!

Using turbochargers to maximise its engine’s efficiency, the German heavyweight contender in this fight punches out 353kW and 620Nm: with all that torque available from as low down the rev range as 1 950rpm. Nail the accelerator pedal to the floor and you’ll see 100km/h reached in 3,7 seconds, and if you are brave enough to keep your right foot planted you’ll hit 309km/h!

Making the Porsche more marketable is that it is perhaps the most “practical” of the three. It has a luggage space, and a few cup holders in the cabin.

It also has a very cool rear spoiler!

We are not privileged in South Africa to have these vehicles available for test purposes, but poking my nose into them before, sitting in them and poring over countless test reports and video

footage, it is perhaps easy to imagine how well these cars handle and perform. Having driven other models from their manufacturers, I can only drool over the handling prowess of what the Ferrari and Porsche must exude. These three cars are the best in the business: around a racing circuit in the United Kingdom, they lapped less than two-tenths between each other. So, power and handling are virtually the same then.

What is it that separates these three cars then?

It comes down to how you feel when you own it. And I can say that if I owned any of these cars I would be in motoring heaven! These cars are all mighty quick, all have their own design philosophies and are all comfortable to travel in every day. But which one would I pick?

For driving pleasure, the Porsche wins it. But, I would choose the Aston Martin. In my mind, there is no better GT car today!

ProMotor Issue 01 - Page 09

WET PAINT 10: Rolls-Royce 200EX/11: Aston Martin Lagonda/12: Alpina D3/13: VW Polo/ WORDS: EVAN ROTHMAN At Rolls-Royce, experimental cars have played a significant role in the company’s history and heritage. From the first experimental vehicle - the 1EX built in 1919 - to the most recent in 2006 (the 101EX), Rolls-Royce has alwats believed that experimental cars are to be rgarded not as concept cars but as fully functioning vehicles, with wood, leather and metals rahter than clay and foam. Experimental vehicles offer engineers and designers the opportunity for realworld innovation, and are often used to showcase their new components and technologies. “Modern automotive engineering is a balance of creativity, innovation and application. 200EX is an opportunity to assess these new ideas,” explains Helmut Riedl, Director of Engineering.

The 200EX is, thus a near-production ready vehicle. The much anticipated RR4, a new RollsRoyce model expected to be debuted in 2010, the 200EX is a reality... Its exterior design is dominated by large and flowing surfaces, with finely moulded lines that modernise the shape.

The upward sweeping sill line and low-cut roof, the tapered rear with its imposing shoulder lines are unmistakably Rolls-Royce in their execution.

As is now a signature feature of Rolls-Royce

vehicles, the rear-hinged doors lends added functionality and style to the car. Up front, a set of LED headlamps flanks what is arguably the world’s most famous grille. Seven-spoke, 20-inch wheels complete the visual impact of the exterior.

With regards to the interior, Rolls-Royce has spared no expense while incorporating the finest materials and luxury features for the 200EX. Elegant, frosted lamps and chrome door handles are features, while details include traditional violin key switches, eyeball air vents, opaque dials and refined instrumentation.

According to Rolls-Royce, instrument panel has been kept deliberately clear. All controls and switchgear are neat and ergonomically placed.

“200EX is a modern execution of timeless RollsRoyce elegance, breaking with some areas of tradition but retaining the core values that make our marque unique,” says Chief Executive Officer Tom Purves. “We expect the more informal, agile design to broaden the appeal of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, attracting people who appreciate its fusion of refinement, new technology and contemporary style.”

A New Class of Style?

ProMotor Issue 01 - Page 10

WET PAINT

Aston Martin revives Lagonda badge!

The blokes at Aston Martin have been busy of late, what with the launch of the DBS Volante at Geneva, and now the announcement they will be reviving the iconic Lagonda badge.

This bold move fulfils a long-term vision of Aston Martin to bring performance luxury into new markets and territories around the world. Their aim with the Lagonda name is to introduce the brand into 100 global territories!

“The Lagonda is the luxury car of the future,” says Aston Martin Lagonda Chief Executive, Dr Ulrich Bez, “a combination of total usability, a new form and innovative new technology and materials.”

Aston Martin Lagonda is committing itself to innovate new propulsion technologies, new materials and to return functional luxury to the motoring world.

Lagond’a aims are to enter the market place with a “unique performance avantgarde luxury product, a vehicle that combines exceptional ability with unsurpassed elegance, inside and out.”

And this is where the Lagonda Concept steps in.

It is a powerful four-wheel drive, four-seater car.

“An Aston Martin is an authentic, pure sports car,” says Dr Ulrich Bez, “but Lagonda is something else, a new brand that will reach into new markets. Lagonda will create a new kind of customer relationship, instilling the spirit of travel, adventure and style into a single, formidable package.

An Aston Martin demands to be driven. A Lagonda demands a destination.”

ProMotor Issue 01 - Page 11

WET PAINT

Scorching new BMW model from Alpina unveiled!

ProMotor Issue 01 - Page 12

Billed as the “cleverest sports car” the new BMW Alpina D3 is now available in showrooms across Europe. Not just a cosmetic enhancement to the BMW 3-Series, yuners Alpina have dramatically boosted performance of this already quick machine. This four-cylinder four-door car delivers impressive performance, economy and low emissions, and looks the part too!

ALPINA engineers have used BMW’s twin turbo diesel engine - which at 214 hp - produces more horsepower per litre than any other engine in a current BMW ALPINA road car. A top speed of 243km/h is capable, as is 0-100km/h sprint time of only 6,9 seconds. Top speed is limited to 250km/h. Stopping power and suspension have also been reworked. It should be a stonker to drive!

WET PAINT

Another Top Seller for VW Volkwagen has launched its fifth generation of the ever-popular Polo model range, some 34 years after the original model went on sale in Europe.

The new Polo carries a sharper look, is lighter than its predecessor, is equipped with more safety and luxury features and is set to create a new benchmark in its class.

952 litres with the seats folded forward. Subtle aluminium highlights dotted about the cabin lend a more modern feel to the interior, as do the elegant white backlit dials of the instrument panel.

According to Volkswagen, this new Polo is 7,5 percent lighter than the model it currently replaces, despite its dimensions being longer (by 36mm) and wider (by 32mm), as well as being stronger and safer.

Like the Golf VI, the new Polo wears the marque’s new family design, as well as offering highly efficient power plants to customers. Walter de Silva (Head of Design, Volkswagen Group) has created the car with clean and uncluttered lines.

The new front end allows the Polo to look lower and wider than it really is, and gives it a more aggressive appeal.

The larger dimensions mean the new Polo offers a more spacious interior; the load volume of the boot is rated at 280 litres and a maximum of

The new Polo will go on sale in Europe later this year, and should find its way to our shores towards the end of year.

ProMotor Issue 01 - Page 13

LEGENDS 14: Ayrton Senna/

WORDS: EVAN ROTHMAN

A RARE GENIUS Ayrton Senna da Silva was perhaps the most daring driver to walk the F1 paddock in recent times.

This Brazilian race car driver knew no fear: he was renowned for his overtaking manoeuvres and one-lap qualifying genius.

Senna was a three-time F1 World Champion, and was tragically killed while leading the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.

Often regarded as one of the greatest drivers in F1’s history, he was recognised for his qualifying skill and precision over a single lap that defied reason. In fact, he held the record for the most pole positions from 1989 to 2006! Senna also holds the record for the most victories at the gruelling Monaco Grand Prix and is the third most successful driver of all time in regards to race wins.

His dedication and single-minded pursuit to be the best driver often landed him in awkward situations.

This was most notable during his rivalry with Alain Prost in which two championship-deciding “accidents” were brought on by Senna.

Senna was often quoted using driving as a means for self-discovery, and racing as a metaphor for life: “The harder I push, the more I find within myself. I am always looking for the next step, a different world to go into, areas where I have not been before. It’s lonely driving a Grand Prix car, but very absorbing. I have experienced new sensations and I want more. That is my excitement, my motivation.”

Towards the end of his career Senna became increasingly preoccupied with the dangers of his profession.

On the morning of his death he initiated the re-formation of the GPDA safety organisation, with which he would work to improve the safety of his sport.

He was renowned for his close relationship with Gerhard Berger, and the two were always playing practical jokes on each other.[71] Berger is quoted as saying “He taught me a lot about our sport, I taught him to laugh”. In the documentary film The Right to Win made in 2004 as ProMotor Issue 01 - Page 14

a tribute to Senna, Frank Williams notably recalls that as good a driver as Senna was, ultimately “he was an even greater man outside of the car than he was in it.”

His motorsport career began in karting, and he quickly moved up the ranks to win the British Formula 3 championship in 1983. Making his Formula One debut with Toleman in 1984, he moved to Lotus-Renault the following year, and won six Grands Prix over the next three years.

In 1988 he joined Frenchman Alain Prost at McLaren-Honda. Between them, Senna and Prost amazingly won fifteen out of the sixteen Grands Prix which took place that season, with Senna winning his first World Championship, a title he would go on to win again in 1990 and 1991.

McLaren’s performance declined in 1992, as the Williams-Renault combination began to dominate the sport, although Senna finished runner-up in 1993.

To bolster his chances of winning the Drivers’ title for 1994 he switched to Williams in 1994, and the rest as they say is history.

Senna was a deeply religious person and he openly talked about his beliefs with his racing, something for which he was criticised as dangerous

by Alain Prost, among others.

Senna expressed concern over the widespread poverty in Brazil, and privately spent millions of his personal fortune on uplifting underprivileged children. Shortly before his death he created the framework for an organisation dedicated to Brazilian children, which later became Instituto Ayrton Senna.

This foundation has invested nearly US$80 million over the last twelve years in social programs and actions in partnership with schools, government, NGOs, and the private sector aimed at offering children and teenagers from lowincome backgrounds the skills and opportunities they need to develop to their full potential as persons, citizens and future professionals.

“He was an even greater man outside of the car than he was in it.”

- Frank Williams

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NEW DAWN 16: Infiniti Essence

“The essence of the Infiniti brand distilled into one car and then taken to the extremes to satisfy the world’s most demanding car enthusiasts … this is the Infiniti Essence.”

This is the introductory paragraph to the Infiniti Essence press release. Attached with the photograph on this page, how could I resist not reading further!

Presented as a concept at the Geneva International Motor Show, the Infiniti Essence is a celebration of Infiniti and its 20 year history as a creator of performance cars. But equally it is an inspiring exploration into the brand’s future.

With a dramatic design, equipped with innovative technology and capable of sports car performance (600PS is the quoted power output figure), it is driven by a petrol/electric hybrid system powering this coupe’s rear wheels. “What Essence is not is merely an indulgent birthday present from Infiniti to itself” - I couldn’t agree more!

This concept embodies Infiniti’s core values as an inspiration for the future as much as a celebration of the past. Essence showcases many of the

technologies, including hybrid, and design cues that will distinguish Infiniti production cars of the coming years. And by steering Infiniti’s guiding principle of “Inspired Performance” into the luxury super-coupe market for the first time, it reaffirms Infiniti’s place among the world’s most exclusive and vibrant car brands.

The Essence is not an out-and-out aggressive sports car. Infiniti’s “Dynamic Adeyaka” attitude ensures Essence is single-minded, but also inviting, sophisticated and born of inspiration from both the human and natural worlds. To further boost its emotional appeal, it features details that bring a very modern take to some very old Japanese traditions.

The designers’ aim was to merge all existing Infiniti design cues with fresh design language in a shape that the 20-year-old marque has never before attempted. The result is highly sculptural yet also very delicate. Essence speaks of power but not intimidation.

Essence is unusual even in the rarefied atmosphere of the world’s fastest road cars

Here’s a sports car with a conscience...

NEW DAWN

by being able to call on a mighty 592bhp. The power guarantees high performance responses on any road, in any situation. Infiniti’s Essence is not, however, an intimidating sports racer. Like the design, the performance is designed to be sophisticated and unobtrusive – performance with a human touch.

The hybrid system is a logical extension of Infiniti parent group’s groundbreaking green commitments. It offers power with efficiency, and high performance with zero-emissions running, by combining a petrol engine with an electric motor.

These can work independently or together as a “parallel” hybrid system.

In congested urban areas, the electric motor alone is all that is needed for Essence to glide silently between stoplights, with no tailpipe emissions.

When the traffic clears, Essence responds with a highway performance that few cars could match. In “power assist” mode the full 600PS is unleashed with both petrol and electric power working together.

their power only to the rear wheels. Performance is more linear, response is crisper – and driving pleasure further enhanced – as a result. Infiniti’s familiar 3.7-litre V6 petrol engine is fitted with twin turbochargers, boosting power to 440PS (434bhp). A new direct-injection fuel system ensures the engine works more efficiently than ever in Essence.

Infiniti’s Essence previews a new type of electric motor, called 3D Motor, that was designed to meet tough requirements on size and power output.

The result is a particularly slim, disc-shaped motor that has twice the torque of a conventional unit. Its design was achieved by 3D magnetic field analysis to optimise the layout of the electromagnetic coils and permanent magnets.

According to the motor manufacturer, the Essence has been 20 years in the making. For that is how long the essence of the marque – its very being, a distillation of everything that Infiniti stands for – has taken to reach its current state of perfection.

A key difference over some other hybrid systems is that both the V6 and the electric motor feed

ProMotor Issue 01 - Page 17

Thsi is the 911 GT2 Classic Chronograph watch, a limited edition!

It features quartz movement, split-time measurement and date display, stopwatch function for up to 12 hours and tachymeter, has a luminescent hour and minute hands with a genuine carbon dial. A black stainless steel case with antireflective sapphire crystal watch face completes the look.

The design has been based on the colours of the GT2 interior.

Only 911 examples will be sold worldwide. porsche-design.com

Here is Audi’s super fast RS6. Most of us will never get to even see one in the paint, so this will do... audi.co.za

STUFF YOU NEVER

ESSEN

For those Volkswagen Golf GTI fans out there... and there are plenty of you! vw.co.za

The Porsche Design blokes have created this must-have t-shirt. It is emblazoned with the 911 TO THE CORE logo! porsche-design.com

ProMotor Issue 01 - Page 24

Down in the Eastern Cape, the Volkswagen Cycling Club is well-known. Now you too can be part of that! vw.co.za

Be the first of your mates to own it: the new Volkswagen Scirocco. Scale Model, that is. vw.co.za

KNEW YOU NEEDED

NTIALS These must be the COOLEST racing boots I have ever seen. You probably need to have a Porsche racer to pull these off though. porsche-design.com

ProMotor Issue 01 - Page 25

SPORT 20: NRC Total Tour Natal Rally/22: Rally Chicks/23: Off-Road Racing news/24: WRC Cyprus Rally/26: F1 News/28: Jean Todt/

Gemmell powers Toyota Auris S2000 to its maiden win in Natal!

Slippery and narrow roads snaking through the sugar cane fields around Scottburgh on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast provided action aplenty for the competitors at this year’s opening round of the SASOL South African National Rally Championship, the TOTAL Tour Natal Rally WRITES EVAN ROTHMAN. As is usually the case in KwzZulu-Natal, the

weather on Friday 13 March was hot and humid, and this led to light rain showers on Saturday morning to leave the rally stages slippery and muddy. This challenging event, rated by many as one of the toughest on the South African rally calendar, was no different in 2009: ProMotor Issue 01 - Page 20

of the 38 cars that took to the first stage, only 22 survived the gruelling route.

It was Johnny Gemmell and Peter Marsh (Castrol Toyota Auris S2000) that got their 2009 rally championship campaign off to a flying start this past weekend by winning the TOTAL Tour Natal Rally in style. To give the Castrol Toyota Auris S2000 its maiden win, Gemmell powered to a two minute win over the chasing field.

The Auris has shown its potential since we started using it on the Mountain Trial. The development done has made it a formidable rally weapon and I’m really excited to have given the car and the team a win on the Tour, as Toyota has their manufacturing plant down the road and there were lots of hard-core Toyota fans along the route”.

SPORT “It’s been a very tricky event. One slip and you’re not coming out of the cane”, said Gemmell of the conditions. “We were drawn second on the road on Friday but 6km into the first stage we were first on the road and sweeping the loose gravel away for the others. We lost a good 40 seconds on Friday”, Gemmell explained.

“After Mark went off, we had a lead of nearly two minutes so I backed off enough to maintain my concentration and bring it home, with the added luxury of slowing a little for the rougher bits”.

SS1 proved that rallying is thrilling, dramatic and highly unpredictable at the best of times. Just four kilometres into this stage, an aggressive manoeuvre for Enzo Kuun and Guy Hodgson (BP Volkswagen Polo S2000) had unexpected results: a hard right into a steep downhill saw the BP Volkswagen Polo S2000 forced up onto the left-hand side wheels.

Kuun prevented the car from rolling, but still hit the embankment on the opposite side of the road, and the impact of landing back on all four wheels severely damaged the car’s suspension resulting in them rolling to a stop further down the road.

In rallying, anything can happen. Unfortunately for the BP Volkswagen Rally Team Kuun’s car, now blocking the road, prevented the two following crews from passing the scene. Hergen Fekken/ Pierre Arries and Jan Habig/Douglas Judd (both driving BP Volkswagen Polo S2000s) lost between two and four minutes on this opening stage…

Arries claimed third overall, pushing their BP Volkswagen Polo S2000 to its limits: it illustrate this, Fekken posted the fastest stage time on five of the rally’s 15 stages!

Finishing a little over one minute behind were team-mates Habig and Judd. After painfully losing minutes in SS1, Habing picked up a further two minute time penalty after suffering a minor mechanical problem when exiting a service park.

Without this penalty, they would most certainly have finished ahead of their team-mates Fekken and Arries.

Hein Lategan/Johan van der Merwe (Diesel Technic Subaru Impreza N4) finished second in Class N4, after leading the class by 25 seconds

after the first five stages. Their car, unfortunately, refused to start after SS6, dropping them to sixth overall. After Mark Cronje retired from the event, they moved one place higher up the leader board.

Visser du Plessis and Gerhard Snyman (Pirtek Subaru Impreza N4) were engaged in a battle with Hein Lategan. Du Plessis retired his car on Day Two with a broken gearbox.

“SS1 proved that rallying is thrilling, dramatic and highly unpredictable at the best of times.”

SS1 also caught out J-P. Damseaux and Andre Vermeulen (TOTAL Toyota RunX S2000) out, as they slid off the road 6km into the stage and thus effectively ending their rally for points. Damseaux/Vermeulen did, however, restart Day Two under SupeRally regulations and won two of the six stages they contested and set the second fastest stage times in another two.

Not surprisingly the Class N4 cars were giving the Class S2000 crews a headache. Charl Wilken and Greg Goodrich (SASOL/Konica Minolta Subaru Impreza N4) brought their new rally machine across the finish line in second place overall and convincingly won the Production Car Category too.

Mark Cronje and Robert Paisley (Castrol Toyota Auris S2000) were running first for much of the rally, until a tricky corner in SS9 caught the pair out. With a lead of nearly one minute, the instruction was “left 6, no cut”. Cronje tells of the incident: “The back stepped out and the cane caught the nose, pulling us in. I hit a hole and that flipped us over”, Cronje explained. “It was in the bag. We had a good rhythm going in the car and Robert was spot with the route notes. The irony is the times were coming without pushing that hard. I’m devastated for the team, who’ve worked so hard”.

Class S2000 debutant Fernando Rueda/Cobus Very (TOTAL Toyota RunX S2000) ended in a solid sixth place overall after a trouble-free rally, while Nicholas Ryan/ Geoff Tyrer (Toyota RunX S2000) finished seventh overall.

Another newcomer to Class S2000, Theuns Joubert/Hennie Botes (Volkswagen Polo S2000) brought their car home in eighth place overall, Mike Nathan/Derek Jacobs (Mitsubishi Lancer EVOLUTION IX) ninth and an impressive performance by Stevan Wilken/Greg Gericke (Volkswagen Polo A7) to round out the top 10 overall positions.

Toyota dominated in Class A6 and N3 thanks to Rodney Visagie/Carolyn Swan (TOTAL Toyota RunX A6) and Dave Compton/Pierre Jordan (SASOL Toyota RunX N3).

Andre Cleenwerck/Des de Fortier (BP Volkswagen CitiGolf A5) built up an early lead in Class A5.

A gearbox problem saw the defending Class A5 champion incur a lateness penalty on Friday night, handing the class rally lead to BP Volkswagen CitiGolf A5 team-mates Gugu Zulu/Carl Peskin who then grabbed the class win this past weekend.

The second round of the South African National Rally Championship will take place in the Overberg in the Western Cape on 03 - 04 April.

Defending South African champions Fekken and ProMotor Issue 01 - Page 21

SPORT Rallying sisters Lola and Megan Verlaque came through their baptism of fire in the top class of the Sasol SA Rally Championship season-opener in KwaZulu Natal on Saturday with flying colours, finishing a creditable 11th overall and seventh in class S2000.

The Total Tour Natal Rally proved to be a searching test in extremely hot conditions on Friday and wet and muddy conditions on Saturday.

Following their successful debut in their new four-wheel drive Volkswagen Polo in the Rally of Tanzania three weeks ago, where they finished fourth overall in the African Rally Championship event, the Rally Chicks knew that the traditionally testing Tour Natal would be a bigger challenge.

“We managed to complete the Tanzanian event without any serious damage to our car and were just hoping to survive the Tour Natal and not make fools of ourselves in only our second event in the S2000 Polo,” 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.

“We had problems with the power steering on Friday and I had to work very hard to keep it on the road. We started off well enough but our times got progressively slower and we were only 17th overall and eighth in our class at the overnight stop on Friday.

“Thanks to the Volkswagen technicians we were able to replace the steering rack and power steering overnight and I didn’t have to battle so much on Saturday,” said Lola.

“We had no more problems and were very happy to finish what was a very tough event. It’s going to take a few events to get to know this new car and learn how to drive it properly.”

The girls’ efforts were rewarded at a lavish prize-giving at the Durban International Conference Centre, attended by a number of VIP guests and celebrities including Miss South Africa 2008, Tatum Keshwar, where they received the award for the highest-placed lady crew.

They will miss the next round of the Sasol Rally Championship, the Toyota Dealer Rally in the Western Cape, as they will be travelling to East Africa to contest round two of the African Rally Championship, Safari Rally Kenya on April 3 to 5.

RALLY CHICKS

UP A GEAR! ProMotor Issue 01 - Page 22

Lategan signs up for Castrol Off-Road Team!

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Heinrich (Hein) Lategan has been appointed as the driver of the second Castrol Toyota Hilux entered in the ABSA Off Road Championship. The selection of Lategan as a replacement for Mark Cronje in the team comes after a successful test in the Hilux earlier today (Tuesday the 17th March). Lategan will be teamed with regular Castrol Hilux navigator Chris Birken.

“When Mark Cronje advised us that he wanted to take a sabbatical from the Off Road series to concentrate on rallying we had a close look at the numerous options available to us to fill this key position in our team,” says Wammy Haddad, Toyota’s Motorsport Manager. “We ideally wanted a combination of driving experience, technical feedback, and the ability to be competitive but still bring the vehicle home at the end of the event.

“For some time now we have been aware of Hein Lategan’s performance in National Championship rallies where he competes as a privateer. On most events he has surprised with his performance and shown the degree of mechanical sympathy that brings the car home successfully a high percentage of the time. We followed his performance during the Tour Natal Rally over the past weekend and decided that we should offer him an opportunity to test the Hilux with a view to joining the team for the season.

“Following a successful test we have asked Hein to join us, teamed with Chris Birken, for the ABSA Off Road series. He will have his first outing in the Adenco 400, in the Western Cape this weekend, the first round of the series. Our objective is to win events in the SP class this year. Anthony Taylor and Robin Houghton will lead this challenge and we believe that Hein Lategan and Chris Birken will provide strong support for this effort in the early part of the season and become strong contenders for victory as they gel as a team and with the vehicle.”

About Heinrich Lategan: Hein Lategan runs SAC trucks, a division of the SAC group. Aged 41 he is married to Sonette and has three children.

He started his motor sport career at the age of 19 in track racing in the Formula Vee Championship.

He won National F Vee Championship twice, in 1990 and in 1991. He then graduated to Formula Ford and won that Championship in 1993. In 1996 he won the Class B Touring Car Championship before taking a break from the sport to concentrate on his family and career.

In 2005 Hein returned to motor sport, this time in National Championship rallying where he competed in a diesel vehicle for two seasons. Midway through the 2008 season he acquired a Group N Subaru and was very quickly on the pace of the leading competitors in his class. He scored his first win in the Production Car class in the 2008 Osram Rally.

In the Tour Natal Rally over the past weekend he was the pace setter in the Production Car class with stage times that would have placed him second overall. An 80 second penalty for lateness incurred whilst resolving a mechanical problem relegated him to fifth overall and second in the Production Car class.

ProMotor Issue 01 - Page 23

SPORT

THE LOEB SHOW: Can anyone beat him?

ProMotor Issue 01 - Page 24

SPORT The first mixed surface event on the WRC calendar since 1996. Day One of the WRC Cyprus Rally, the third round of the season, saw competitors tackle asphalt stages in their gravel-specced cars, while Days Two and Three were contested on rocky and twisty gravel stages. As if that wasn’t enough of a challenge, the rally gods decided to throw in rain on for the gravel roads on Day Two to result in a mud bath. In fact, the torrential rain in the Troodos Mountains was incredible: at lunchtime service, 95kg of mud was removed from Mikko Hirvonen’s BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Team Focus RS WRC car, WRITES EVAN ROTHMAN. Another record has been chalked up to the legend that is Sebastien Loeb. In a faultless drive, he secured his 50th WRC win, a feat no other driver in the history of the sport has ever achieved.

This makes it three from three victories for the Frenchman and his co-driver Daniel Elena in 2009.

With an eight point advantage over his closest rival Mikko Hirvonen in the WRC Drivers’ title fight, Loeb has yet to be challenged for a rally win this year.

The WRC Cyprus Rally was also an important event for rallying, for Petter Solberg (Petter Solberg World Rally Team) celebrated a podium result this weekend: he is the first privateer to finish on the podium since the early 1990s!

DAY ONE: Day One of the event saw the Citroen Total World Rally Team set off at a blistering pace, winning every stage to end the day with Loeb first overall and team-mates Dani Sordo/Marc Marti in second place. Loeb dominated proceedings throughout the day, and settled into a comfortable at the head of the WRC field. With gravel-specced cars, motorsport media expected the field to be tightly bunched on Day One. Looking at the stage times, this was true, except of course one long-haired Frenchman.

After clocking up over 1 000km in preparation for this event, the factory Ford boys were hoping to be able to challenge Loeb here in Cyprus. But, where were they on Day One? Hirvonen admitted he was driving too cautiously on the morning’s opening stages, but his confidence returned for the afternoon loop of stages where he was brought his BP Ford Abu Dhabi Focus RS WRC car home third overall with his team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala behind in fourth position.

Petter Solberg performed brilliantly at the wheel of his privateer Citroen Xsara WRC, finishing Day One fifth overall. More impressively, Solberg was in a position to mount an attack on the two factory Fords ahead of him on Day Two. Citroen Junior Team driver Sebastien Ogier and codriver Julien Ingrassi finished behind Petter Solberg, while his team-mate Evgeny Novikov slotted into seventh overall. Both these Citroen Junior Team drivers once more demonstrated their oodles of talent!

A surprise revelation on Day One was Stobart VK M-Sport’s Matthew Wilson who finished the day in eighth place, despite suffering from brake troubles.

Argentines Federico Villagra and co-driver Jorge Perez Companc (Munchi’s Ford Rally Team) debuted their season with a strong 10th place overall.

Sadly, the charismatic Henning Solberg (Stobart VK M-Sport World Rally Team) was forced to retire form the rally early on Day One. In fact en route to SS1 he was involved in a collision with a non-competing

vehicle. Thankfully, nobody was injured but Solberg’s car’s cooling system was damaged beyond repair.

DAY TWO: Latvala had a dramatic start to Day Two: he lost 22 minutes after sliding off the road on the stage, dropping him from fourth to 25th place overall. A determined drive saw him claw his way to 19th by the end of the day’s arduous stages.

Team-mate Hirvonen challenged himself and the treacherously muddy conditions, to move up one place to second overall. He also managed to close the gap to Loeb to 49,8 seconds, and had also opened an advantage of 46,2 seconds over Sordo.

With grip at a premium on the loose surface stages, running first on the stages proved to not be a handicap for Loeb. His ability to maintain speed no matter the condition of the surface or his car’s grip level, Loeb showcased his supreme talent.

As was expected, Sordo put in an impressive drive yet again on Day Two. He was, however, struggling to find his rhythm on the morning’s stages, but regained his composure in the afternoon. Hirvonen attacked Sordo at this point, and moved into second place.

Petter Solberg continued his onslaught on the factory teams, pushing his Xsara WRC car to its limit to cement his fourth place overall position.

Impressively, he was now within attacking distance of Sordo…

Matthew Wilson and Scott Martin climbed from eighth place to fifth on Day Two and posted the third fastest stage time on the penultimate speed test. Sebastien Ogier and Evgeniy Novikov held station in sixth and seventh positions respectively, and were slowly reeling in Wilson ahead of them.

For newcomers to this the top echelon on this sport, Ogier and Novikov deserve loads of kudos!

Villagra ended Day Two in ninth place behind Conrad Rautenbach/Daniel Barritt (Citroen C4 WRC). More good news was the Henning Solberg restarted the event under SupeRally rules in 29th position, and powered his way to 23rd overall at the end of Day Two. DAY THREE: The BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team claimed a clean sweep of stage victories on the final leg of the rally. Hirvonen finished the event just 27,2 seconds adrift of Loeb, and 01 min 22 sec ahead of third placed Petter Solbeg. His performance this weekend has shown his team boss and arch-rival Loeb that he should not be underestimated on loose surface rallies this year… His pace was explosive on Days Two and Three of the event, and were it not for his lacklustre drive on Day One Hirvonen may have had an opportunity to fight Loeb for the rally lead!

Sordo finished fourth overall, Wilson a strong fifth, Rautenbach sixth and Villagra seventh. What happened to the two Citroen Junior Team crews?

I hear you ask. Novikov retired his C4 on SS12, and Sebastien Ogier ended up in a ditch just a few hundred metres from the rally finish…

This mixed surface event added a new element of excitement and drama to the rally, and from all accounts, WRC Cyprus Rally was a success.

From a spectators point of view, watching Loeb behind the steering wheel of his Citroen C4 WRC is mesmerising. Can anyone catch this man?

ProMotor Issue 01 - Page 25

SPORT

BMW Sauber F1 Team sponsored

by Gauteng!

The BMW Sauber F1 Team will go into the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship with another new official partner. The GO-GP.ORG logo will travel with the team around the world as an invitation to the Gauteng Province in South Africa.

Gauteng Province is an economic hub of South Africa, contributing to 35% of the country’s GDP and 10% of the African continent’s GDP. The province offers a diverse range of opportunities from, tourism, commerce, investment, an established automotive manufacturing industry and a new motor sports lifestyle and development initiative. It is gearing itself toward becoming a “knowledge economy” concentrating on growing the ICT, BPO & Bio-Technology sectors.

Gauteng has a history of hosting the South African Formula 1 Grand Prix and other premium international sport events. The domain name GO-GP.ORG acts as a portal for grand prix fans, tourists and investors to access the province’s exciting offerings and at the same time become part of a new international Grand Prix Membership Club.

“I am delighted to welcome another long-term partner on board,” said BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen, and added: “In addition to its business links with South Africa through the plant in Rosslyn, Gauteng, BMW also has an emotional connection with the country thanks to motor sport. It was at the South African F1 Grand Prix in 1983 that Nelson Piquet wrapped up the Drivers’ World Championship in a Brabham BMW.” The Gauteng Motorsport Company manages the ProMotor Issue 01 - Page 26

Gauteng Provincial Government’s promotion through international motor sport that extends beyond the new partnership with BMW Sauber F1 Team. The company will organise and promote the sixth round of the World Superbike Championship (BMW Motorrad has entered in 2009) at Kyalami in May. GO-GP.ORG lettering will be visible on the front wing endplates and nose section of the F1.09, as well as on the drivers’ helmets and overalls, team clothing, pit equipment and team trucks.

The Gauteng Motorsport Company has fused both promotional objectives of the Gauteng Province and that of its Grand Prix motor sport lifestyle and development initiatives. GO – Gauteng Province, Go - Grand Prix.

MEC of Economic Development and Finance, Mr. Mandla Nkomfe explains: “This exciting new partnership with BMW Sauber F1 carries our messages to the world and further compliments our long-term motor sport strategy. We are setting out to build the profile of Gauteng Province as an attractive location for investors, industry and tourism. This partnership has further far reaching benefits beyond a traditional F1 Team Partnership and we will be working closely with BMW and our other motor sport partners to restore the prominence of South Africa in Formula One and our local motor sport industry.”

There are plans to hold demonstration runs with a BMW Sauber F1 Team car and the BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers in Gauteng over the course of this summer.

Watch out Ferrari!

The newly-formed Brawn GP Team, formerly Honda F1 Racing, has stunned not only the F1 media but also the F1 team bosses in Barcelona and Jerez after Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button posted the fastest lap times during the final pre-season tests in Spain before the Formula One season opener in Melbourne on 29 March.

Barrichello, the most experienced driver currently in F1, was the quicker of the two team-mates in the final pre-season test in Spain as he topped the time sheets ahead of the rest of the chasing pack by more than half a second per lap!

Barrichello best lap time was 1 minute 19.236 seconds, making sure that Ross Brawn’s team was the fastest team of the three present.

During their first ever test as Brawn GP Team in Barcelona, the BGP001 looked both quick and

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reliable. Renault’s Fernando Alonso completed 107 laps, but was not able to match the Brazilian’s lap times.

“We had a good day of testing today,” said Barrichello. “It is hotter in Jerez than it was in Barcelona last week and therefore more representative of the temperatures that we can expect for the first few races, so it is good preparation for myself and the car.”

“The car ran very well once again and we are increasing our understanding of its characteristics every day,” he added.

With the first Grand Prix just days away, likes of Ferrari and McLaren will have to do some serious head-scratching to keep the new team behind them it seems!

ProMotor Issue 01 - Page 27

SPORT Ferrari’s Formula One ambitions were turned into tangible results thanks to Frenchman Jean Todt.

With the legendary Michael Schumacher at the wheel of the Ferrari F1 racers, Todt headed the F1 paddock’s “dream team”.

This week, Jean Todt ended his long-standing relationship with Ferrari by stepping down from his post-racing position on the manufacturer’s board of directors with immediate effect.

Luca di Montezemolo, the president of the iconic Italian company, announced this news to the motoring world and led to paying a tribute to Todt.

Todt joined Ferrari when the team were not competing for race wins, nor championships since Jody Scheckter’s title victory in 1979.

He drafted in Ross Brawn, Rory Byrne, Paolo Martinelli and Michael Schumacher to set about turning the performance of the squad into a race-winning package. This, as we all know, led to five constructors championships between 2000 and 2004, asd well as helping Schumacher to his record-breaking number of Drivers’ Championship victories.

After Schumacher’s retirement, Todt remained as the head of the Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team

Todt bids farewell to Ferrari ProMotor Issue 01 - Page 28

until 2007, when he handed over to Stefano Domenicali.

He remained as the Italian motor manufacturer’s CEO until March 2008, and then retained a place on the board, before eventually severing all ties with this week’s announcement. ”Jean Todt has been one of the leading protagonists of the Ferrari story of the last 15 years,” Montezemolo declared as he paid tribute at the press conference. ”Skill and passion have always characterised his work, and have won him my personal respect and affection, that of the company as a whole and of Prancing Horse enthusiasts everywhere. ”All of these years we’ve spent together - victories and tough times included - have forged a link between Jean Todt and Ferrari that will never be broken. I would like to wish him the very best for the future, which I hope will prove extremely satisfying, both personally and professionally.”

The Frenchman has been touted as a potential replacement for Max Mosley as FIA president, although his close relationship with Ferrari may preclude his election.

Source: Crash.net