Wheels 2016 02 03

February 4, 2016

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… NOW YOU’RE MOTORING

Legal drags welcome, but …

ALWYN VILJOEN ALL the drag racers Wheels spoke to would like to compete in the new social drag racing class an­ nounced last week by Motor­ sport South Africa (MSA), if the issue of far away tracks can be solved.

The racers say they all support MSA’s aim to allow safer, legal ra­ ces, instead of illegal events where the racers are often har­ assed by authorities.

They also like the idea of hav­ ing their times listed on a “na­ tional” platform as opposed to only being famous in their WhatsApp groups, and they es­ pecially appreciate the low li­ censing fee. For R200, a driver can have a car licensed with MSA and then proceed to drag­race the vehicle at any MSA­sanc­ tioned event in South Africa.

Licencing entails having an MSA official check the vehicle to

ensure it is road legal, which means no nitro bottles or any of the other go­faster add­ons so beloved at the drag racing scene.

Pietermaritzburg­based mas­ ter of ceremonies at legal drag ra­ ces, Desmond Govenden of DY Performance was among the first to applaud MSA for this initia­ tive. “The street legal drag class for the social weekend racer will not only help reduce the number of illegal gatherings on our streets, but will also help fellow drivers understand and adhere to proper safety procedures before entering into a race,” he said.

Govenden added that the aft­ er­market motoring industry could also use the new platform to increase their businesses by getting involved in hosting and supporting such events.

Kurt Volmink, a top drifter in the Midlands said the two issues young drag racers had with the initiative was that MSA­sanc­

Motorsport SA wants to enable safe drag races, such as this one which was set off by the legendary Mano Khan at Dezzi’s, but the racers ask for events closer to home. PHOTO: FILE tioned events only happened at approved tracks, with the main tracks at Mtubatuba near Rich­ ards Bay, Isithebe in Mandini and Dezzi’s near Port Shepstone.

Volmink said while some of the young drivers can afford a road trip to go race at these ve­ nues, most will just continue

with illegal meets.

“What we need is for MSA to liaise with local authorities to close off a street with four lanes where the guys can go race late at night, while our traffic officials work with the guys to ensure ba­ sic safety,” said Volmink.

He added this applies to towns

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The good news is that MSA supports the idea. Motorsport’s regional drag racing delegate, Gareth Lewis told Wheels he will soon meet with event organisers, racers and traffic authorities in the capital to find ways of imple­ menting illegal­to­legal drag ra­ ces, with the aim of rolling out the plan across the province.

Meanwhile, the car racing fra­ ternity hopes the city council will remember the promises made at the last elections to allocate land for safer racing, especially with the local elections coming up.

In related news, Mano Naidoo reports that plans to set up a drag racing strip next to the landing strip outside Howick is still very far on the horizon.

• E­mail your interest to be involved in hosting legal drag races to alwyn.viljoen@witness.co.za

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WitnessWheels MOTORING Industry

February 4, 2016

Swincar asks no road ALWYN VILJOEN touts ‘le Spider’ to dealers looking for a new vehicle to sell EUROPE’S go­anywhere Swin­ car Spider car will soon receive road homologation under the category of light quadricycles.

The legislation limits the un­ laden weight of light all­terrain vehicles to 350 kg, with engine power equal or less than 4 kW (5,6 horsepower), and the maxi­ mum speed limited to 45 km/h.

They must have approved CE headlights, turns signals, a li­ cense plate with light and mir­ rors. Swincar’s Spider meet all the requirements and drivers born before 1988 need no licence in Europe.

When French designing com­ pany Mecanroc launched the Swincar last year in April, the media raved about its ability to go absolutely anywhere, using four spider­like legs to drive each self­powered wheel up any angle while keeping the pilot level in a tilting roll cage.

Each independently articulat­ ed wheel leans into a turn, with optional steering on the rear wheels to enable the Spider to pivot in its own radius, and is powered by a hubwheel motor.

Swincar’s business and fi­ nance partner Thierry Jammes said the venture next plans to de­ ploy the Spider outside recrea­ tional areas, including civil secu­ rity, defence, agriculture and farming.

He said Swincar now also of­ fers a two­seater model and an “Joy­stick” version for users with reduced mobility.

“It has a range which is partic­ ularly interesting for disabled people, not so much a range as a type of the basic vehicle. This type allows people with reduced mobility to have access to it be­ cause the arms on both sides which the wheels are attached to can open up to allow access from a wheelchair,” Jammes said.

Mecanroc is now is looking

Suzuki’s AGS gearbox is part auto, part manual.

PHOTO: QUICKPIC

Japan’s engineers vote for Suzuki

The Swincar Spider needs no road but will keep the pilot level in the seat while traversing steep slopes.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED for distributors around the world, offering its partners a product with no current com­ petitor in the market, silent and clean energy, significant trade margins and local assembly us­ ing aluminum tubes, as well as sales of accessories and services Customers can chose the di­ mensioning of the batteries ac­ cording to personal use — 2 kWh, 4 kWh or 6 kWh. Awards Presented at the Geneva Innova­ tions Fair in April 2015, this con­ cept has received:

• The audience award.

• The gold medal with honours.

• The price of industrial design.

• The price of the group of young leaders.

• The international “Grand Prix Award” from the French Invent­ ors.

Swincar is also: • Winner of the Innovation Tro­ phies and Tourism Rhone­Alps 2012.

• Mountain Innovative and cer­ tified by the International Mountain Cluster in 2013.

More detail are available on www.swincar.fr.

FAW inks deal to export PE trucks to Malawi and Zambia JOHANNESBURG — A signifi­ cant agreement has been reached between FAW and As­ sociated Motor Holdings (AMH), part of the Imperial Group, to offer the best sales ex­ perience, top­notch quality ser­ vice, parts and maintenance pro­ vision to all FAW truck custom­ ers in Malawi and Zambia.

At the legal confirmation cer­ emony this week, Manuel Perei­ ra de Canha, CEO of AMH af­ firmed AMH’s belief in the posi­ tive attributes of the FAW brand of trucks.

“This Chinese brand has re­ markably changed old miscon­ ceptions. With its leading global manufacturing plant, FAW Ve­ hicle Manufacturers SA (Pty) Ltd, like its parent company, can equal the same build and quality standards of just about any oth­ er brand.

“The distinction between dif­ ferent truck categories and the purchase decision lies with the customers and their specific op­ erations, contracts, business models and company projec­ tions. Some customers and fleet operators will choose more af­ fordable, but simpler vehicles while others prefer high­end premium technology and so­ phistication.

“It’s a conscious choice for a

MD of FAW Import and Export Company Zhijian Wang and AMH CEO Manuel de Canha at the ceremony to export FAW trucks from Port Elizabeth into Africa.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED specific business solution. It is no longer a question of the level of manufacturing infrastructure or labour, it is a question of what suits the customer best,” said Manuel Pereira de Canha.

“FAW trucks have proven in

a few short years their durability, strength and rugged capacity to deal with some of the most rig­ orous operating conditions prevalent, especially in develop­ ing global regions, such as Afri­ ca. AMH recognises this as an

opportunity to grow its African footprint and we look forward to the positive growth opportunity.”

In response to Manuel Pereira de Canha’s commitment from AMH, Zhijian Wang, managing director of FAW Import & Ex­

port Co. Ltd paid respect to the trust and respect demonstrated

by AMH in the FAW brand.

AMH will be the exclusive sales, parts, service and mainte­ nance truck partner of FAW in Zambia and in Malawi.

“In 2015 FAW Vehicle Manu­ facturers built and sold over 1 000 trucks into the southern African region. With the formi­ dable experience of a partner such as AMH in Malawi and Zambia, plus our own expan­ sion further into Africa, we have set our sights on 5 000 trucks per annum to be sold in the near future,” said Zhijian Wang con­ fidently.

The greatest advantage for South Africa underpinning this agreement is that all the FAW trucks sold into sub­Saharan Africa are being manufactured locally at the Coega plant based near Port Elizabeth.

Opened in 2014, the FAW Coega plant has extensive ca­ pacity to expand production to up to 5 000 vehicles per annum.

This presents a remarkable op­ portunity for further capital in­ vestment, job creation, greater localisation of second and third­ tier supply levels, and an ex­ panding vehicle manufacturing sector.

— Wheels Reporter.

JAPAN’s Society for the Promo­ tion of the Machine Industry awarded its chairman’s prize to Suzuki’s automatic gearbox.

The society of engineers laud­ ed the gearbox for its refined character and intelligent design The society annually recognis­ es cutting­edge technological ad­ vancements from Japanese cor­ porations, universities and re­ search institutions.

Past winners include the crea­ tors of rotary engines and the in­ ventors of a new paint technolo­ gy that allows for the application of three layers simultaneously.

This year represents the 13th running of the JSPMI Awards.

Suzuki’s redesign of AMT technology is called AGS, or Auto Gear Shift, and it uses a proprie­ tary electro­hydraulic actuator to automatically operate the me­ chanical clutch and allow the au­ tomated up and down­shifting of the five­speed gearbox.

In contrast to a fully automatic gearbox, the AGS system uses the same basic componentry as a manual gearbox, but without a driver­operated clutch.

By sharing components, Suz­ uki keeps the cost of this auto­ shifting option low and within the reach of more drivers, while also ensuring that repairs and maintenance remain cost effec­ tive. South African buyers can ex­ perience this award­winning gearbox in the Celerio 1.0 GL AMT at only R145 700. — WR.

SUBARU SUPPORTS MIDMAR MILE SUBARU Pietermaritzburg an­ nounced it will sponsor support vehicles at the Midmar Mile.

Dealer Principal of Subaru Piet­ ermaritzburg, Howard Christie said the ethos of the Midmar Mile is synonymous with Subaru’s own values of enjoying life through ex­ ploration and adventurous re­ solve.

“Subaru Pietermaritzburg is proud to be associated with the 2016 aQuelle Midmar Mile. As the local representatives for Subaru, we have always sought involve­ ment in local community events, as our way of giving back and add­ ing to the recreational activities of our local customers. “As official vehicle partner, our vehicles will be driven by the visiting international swimmers and visitors, and for general event support. We encour­ age the community to support the day’s activities and spend time with the Subaru family.”

Marketing manager for Subaru Southern Africa Ashley Lazarus said the local dealership also sup­ ports the Sani2C, Berg & Bush and Joburg2C cycling events. — WR.

MOTORING WitnessWheels

February 4, 2016

3

Deliciously svelte BRIAN BASSETT roars around the Midlands in the BMW 220d auto Coupe AS much as I enjoy the BMW brand I do sometimes find their logic a little confusing.

The 2 Series, coupe and con­ vertible, launched in South Afri­ ca in 2014 have their origins in BMW’s new model designa­ tions. These reserve the odd numbers for four­door sedans and even numbers for two­door coupes or coupe­like cars al­ though; with the one series there appears to be quite a few three­ and five­door cars available in the range, but that’s just me be­ ing confused and pedantic.

By the way there is also a 218, 220,220d and 225, labelled Ac­ tive Tourer. This model is a spa­ cious BMW without being an SUV and has nothing to do with the coupe and convertible, shar­ ing as it does a platform with the third generation Mini Cooper.

BMW will probably change it all in a year or two anyway.

What really matters is the quality of their cars and not the numbering of their models.

Our thanks to Anthony Ellis, DP of SMG Pietermaritzburg for allowing us to drive a delightful, red 220d auto, with the M Sport Package for a few days and experi­ ence firsthand the fact that small is indeed beautiful.

Styling The main reason purchasers give up the convenience of four­doors for the more cramped nature of two is because of a coupe’s good looks and with cars first impres­ sions really do count.

The 220d is every inch a BMW, with the usual split kidney grill at the front, a centrally­placed BMW badge flanked by head­ lights ending in sharp points.

The contour lines on the bon­ net mirror air flows and, so say the manufacturers, the integrated air curtain thus formed make you faster and presumably happier.

A lot of fun for couples.

PHOTO: BMW

At the sides the car has a dy­ namic sweeping line, which pro­ claims its speed and dynamism.

At the rear the L­shaped, single unit tail lights visually underscore the 220d’s width and road hug­ ging stance.

In all the design is deliciously svelte and athletic.

The car caught the eye of a number of ladies in carparks across the city and one asked me if I had any more like it at home.

Interior Those familiar with BMW will be completely at home in the interi­ or. The front sports seats are leather covered and easily­adjust­ able, as is the leather­covered, 3­spoke, multi­function sports steering wheel.

The dials in front of the driver are easy to read, without looking away from the road and the dash is dominated by an easy­to­read screen, which handles the details

of the Harmon­Kardon 6­speak­ er audio system and, should you want to turn the car into a four­ wheeled laptop, you can have the BMW Connected Drive Services and apps installed.

There are also various driver assists available but these are ex­ tras, as is the GPS. The system is operated by the usual, central­ ly­placed, iDrive controller.

The rear seats are also finished in soft leather and with a little front seat adjustment the car will take two rear passengers, but not for long drives.

This is more a car for young couples and their kids. The boot will take 390 litres of luggage, not huge but sufficient.

Safety and security The 220d has just about every­ thing, ABS, EBD, seatbelts for all, Dynamic Stability Control, Adaptive Headlights, Adaptive Suspension, which is really nice

to have if you can afford it.

The car has intelligent emer­ gency call, with establishes call centre contact in an accident, without cell phone assistance.

The usual central locking and alarm system is also part of the package.

Performance and handling The BMW brand is synonymous with great handling and this car is no different.

In town you can move around in traffic and park with ease, as the steering provides immediate response and excellent feedback, while park assist does the rest.

The two­litre, four­cylinder,twin power, turbo diesel engine pro­ vides 140 kW/400 Nm which ac­ celerates the car to 100 km/h in 7,1 seconds and provides a top speed of 230 km/h.

Fuel consumption is around 5 l/100 km, but put your foot down and your consumption

leaps up. The car is grippy and corners well. The eight­speed au­ to box is silky smooth, but if you prefer changing gears yourself the six­speed manual box will suit you. In all this is a fun car for those who love to drive and don’t mind getting the occasional speeding fine while enjoying themselves.

Remember, the 220 comes in a 14­model range, ending with the Mighty 235 and from this year the M Coupe.

Costs and the competition The 220d auto will cost you around R464 000. More if you are partial to the long options list.

The car comes with a five­ year/100 000 km extendable motor plan covering everything but tyres, but don’t forget to read the contract carefully.

Also have a look at Mercedes C­Class Coupe, Mazda MX­5, VW Golf Cabriolet and VW Scirocco.

Stanley Anderson.

PHOTO: FILE

HYUNDAI EXTENDS WARRANTY HYUNDAI has introduced its seven­year/200 000 km war­ ranty on engine and transmis­ sion components to SA. The warranty covers select parts in the engine and gear­ box of all Hyundai passenger cars as well the range of light commercial vehicles sold by Hyundai Automotive SA from today (February 1).

The engine items including the timing chain, cylinder block, head gasket, cylinder head and crank case, to name a few, are covered by the ex­ tended warranty.

The turbo­charger, water pump, flywheel and engine mountings also fall under the warranty, while the pressure plate and the torque converter are also covered in the manual and automatic gearboxes.

The gearbox items include the transfer case, universal joint, prop shaft, axle shafts, constant velocity joints and front and rear differentials.

Front and rear hub bearings are also on the list of parts that enjoy the warranty cover.

Stanley Anderson, market­ ing director of Hyundai Auto­ motive South Africa said the company now once again leads the South African automotive industry with a manufacturer’s warranty that really bears tes­ timony of the trust that it pla­ ces in its products.

— Wheels Reporter.

BMW Original Parts

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Sheer Driving Pleasure

ONE PART CAN CHANGE THE OUTCOME.

BMW ORIGINAL PARTS WITH A 2-YEAR WARRANTY.

BMW Original Parts come with a 2-year unlimited mileage warranty.

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This is a simple o-ring. Not even the size of your thumb. Completely insignificant.

On January 28, 1986, a single faulty o-ring, brought down an entire space shuttle, mid takeoff. In a complicated chain, it takes one part that isn’t as sophisticated and meticulously crafted to compromise the whole machine. Don’t take chances. Insist on BMW Original Parts, because without genuine parts, it’s simply not a BMW anymore.

4

WitnessWheels MOTORING

February 4, 2016

Nice enough for the price?

Stripped out, the Type R is currently the fastest hot hatch around Nürburgring THE world’s most keenly antici­ pated hot hatch, the all­new Honda Civic Type R, has arrived in South Africa.

Billed as a “race car for the road”, this latest­generation Civ­ ic Type R delivers unrivalled per­ formance and driving involve­ ment.

“The all­new Honda Civic Type R is the most extreme and highest performing Type R ever built, and sets new standards in the fiercely contested high­per­ formance front­wheel drive hatchback segment,” said Gra­ ham Eagle, director of operations at Honda Motor Southern Afri­ ca.

“Boasting an all­new forced­ induction VTEC Turbo engine, advanced new suspension sys­ tems and purposeful styling that delivers the visual excitement ex­ pected of a Type R while enhanc­ ing performance and stability, the new Civic Type R sets new benchmarks for power delivery, handling dynamics and overall driving thrills,” he added.

This exhilarating new model signals the start of a new per­ formance era for Honda, drawing on the brand’s racing DNA to oc­ cupy the top position in the Hon­ da Civic line­up.

“Part of a wave of next­genera­ tion, all­new Honda vehicles, the new Civic Type R demonstrates the brand’s pioneering approach to technological innovation which makes life better for its customers,” Eagle said.

Inspired by the Japanese word ‘buttigiri’, which translated means ‘to break through and leave the rest behind’, Honda’s engineers sought to develop a Type R that would more than live up to the high expectations asso­ ciated with the red badge.

The new Civic Type R has been engineered to deliver a dynamic, class­leading performance re­ gardless of whether it’s being driven on fast roads, through a twisty mountain pass or on a rac­ ing circuit. At the same time, it remains true to the ease of use and practical packaging expected of a Civic.

The new Type R combines a world­first application of Hon­ da’s new VTEC turbo engine with a sensuous sporting sound, to aggressive function­led styling and pioneering new chassis tech­ nologies.

The result is a profound driv­ ing machine: a super hatch equal­ ly at home on the road as it is on the track, at the push of a but­ ton.

Offered as a full­specification five­door model, the Civic Type

R is set to catapult Honda back to the top of the two­wheel drive performance hatchback league.

Tested for success, it achieved a lap record around the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife.

As part of a rigorous and de­ tailed development and testing programme, a pre­production development Honda Civic Type R achieved a lap time of sev­ en minutes, 50,63 seconds around the 20,8 km Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit in Germany.

This time is unmatched by any other front­wheel­drive per­ formance hatchback.

The lap time was achieved dur­ ing the final phase of pre­produc­ tion testing in May 2014, by a Civic Type R development car in a standard state of engine tune, with suspension, drivetrain, ex­ haust, brakes and the aerody­ namic package identical to those of the production Civic Type R. Stripped­out for the ring The removal of equipment such as air conditioning, the front pas­ senger seat and audio equipment offset the additional weight of a full roll cage (installed specifical­ ly for safety reasons and not to add rigidity).

During the test cycle, the de­ velopment car used production­ specification high­rigidity 19­ inch alloy wheels. These were fit­ ted with the 235/35 R19 Continental SportContact 6 road tyres developed specifically for the new Civic Type R. The Type R has since become the first production vehicle to be fitted with the new Continental SportContact 6 as original equipment. — Supplied.

The new Honda Type R is available in limited numbers through Honda Motor Southern Africa’s national dealer network.

Pricing The retail price of R586 400 in­ cludes a five­year/200 000 km warranty, and a five­ year/90 000 km service plan, while a three­year AA Roadside Assistance package is included.

Services at 15 000 km intervals.

Set to take Honda back to the top. PHOTO: QUICKPIC

For some beholders, the design of the new Honda Civic Type R is eye­watering, but then, so is the price at close to R600k.

PHOTO: QUICKPIC

Opel plans to go retro with purist design RÜSSELSHEIM — The Opel GT Concept makes its debut at next month’s Geneva Interna­ tional Motor Show.

With a front mid­engine driv­ ing the rear wheels, Opel states that the GT Concept “is a direct descendant of the Opel GT and the Monza Concept, and takes Opel’s sculptural design philos­ ophy to the next level”.

As for its fluid design, the statement explains the “avant­ garde yet puristic form renounc­ es everything that disturbs the pure form”.

Which may explain why the GT Concept has no door han­ dles or exterior door mirrors.

The distinctive red front tyres are mounted on rims with a cheeky roller­skate design to re­ mind of the Opel motorbike Motoclub 500 that was also avant­garde at its time and was the proud owner of two red tyres in 1928.

“Back in 1965, Opel developed the Experimental GT, a thor­ oughly modern vehicle that also boasted a pure sculptural shape.

It’s certainly difficult to reinvent an icon but just as the Experi­ mental GT was avant­garde back then, so too is this GT Con­ cept today — absolutely pure, minimalistic, yet bold and un­ compromising.

“This coupé demonstrates impressively the continuous de­ velopment of our design philos­ ophy — ‘Sculptural Artistry meets German precision’,” said Mark Adams, vice president of

While Japan’s designers see 2016 as more edgy than Darth Vader’s helmet, over at Opel, young Europeans hark back to the lines of the 1965 Opel GT with a 1­litre concept.

PHOTO: QUICKPIC Design Europe.

The Opel GT Concept has a powerful 1,0­litre, three­cylin­ der turbo­charged engine based on the ultra­modern all­alumin­ ium engine used in the Adam,

Corsa and Astra. Opel says the new GT’s dry weight of less than 1 000 kg allows a 0 to 100 km/h sprint in less than eight seconds and a top speed of 215 km/h.

The latest in adaptive full LED

light allows glare­free high beam driving, which is already used on the new Astra, and the three­di­ mensional design of the tail lamps makes the new GT dis­ tinctive at night. — WR.

Latest Lexus shows the strength of a yen

The new Lexus RX comes in two flavours, petrol or hybrid, start­ ing at R799 000. PHOTO: QUICKPIC

LEXUS has released the 2016 model of the RX. The two­model line­up is pow­ ered by either a petrol V6 in the RX 350 EX, or a petrol­electric hy­ brid engine in the RX 450h SE, which has an upgraded 3,5­litre direct­injection V6 that develops 221 kW and 370 Nm to drive all four wheels via an eight­speed transmission.

The RX 450 h hybrid develops

230 kW combined system power (engine and electric motor) — a 10 kW increase in combined sys­ tem power over the previous gen­ eration RX 450h — and drives all four wheels via a CVT transmis­ sion. It features a new specifica­ tion 3,5­litre quad cam V6 engine and eight­speed automatic transmission with M (manual) mode, for improved driveability and fuel economy. It develops

17 kW more power and 24 Nm more torque than the supersed­ ed dual VVT­i 2GR­FE A unique feature is the height­ adjustable front cup holders to accommodate larger bottles. A button restores the holder to its original depth, rising slowly with what Lexus described as “slave­ like subservience”.

A wireless charger within the dashboard centre box works on

most smartphones.

The front seats adjust 10 ways with improved heater elements and double air flow for the venti­ lators. In addition, the new RX is equipped with a Climate Conci­ erge — which integrates the seat heating or ventilation with the climate­control system, The RX 350 EX is priced at R799 000. The RX 450h SE is just shy of a bar at R999 000.

Barons Pietermaritzburg’s got my vote.

By Pieter from Maritzburg

When it comes to purchasing a new quality/reliable Volkswagen, Barons Pietermaritzburg’s highly skilled staff have the knowledge and experience to structure the Best Possible Deals to suit your budget while tailoring the specs to cater for your individual needs.

Barons Pietermaritzburg are the average Joe’s gateway to Das Auto Engineering and, of course, it’s younger brother BlueMotion Technology, which is Volkswagen’s commitment to fuel efficiency and economy – that’s great news for Joe, great news for the environment.

0-100km in 4,2 litres.

So my message to anyone living between Durban and the Drakensburg who’s looking for the best Volkswagen dealership, Barons Pietermaritzburg’s got my vote!

Barons VW Pietermaritzburg can be found at 9 Armitage Road. They are committed to bringing you quality cars and excellent service at the best possible prices ALL year round! To start hunting for your dream vehicle, visit www.baronsvwpmb.co.za. And to book a test drive or service call (033) 845 3100. Open Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm, and Saturdays 8am – 1pm.

Adventure calls.

BEAT

Exclusive to Barons Pietermaritzburg: Only 10 available.

The Tiguan TSI 90kW Trend & Fun standard features include: -

6-speed manual Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) Front, side and curtain Airbags Electronic Park Brake with Auto-hold

-

High-Beam Control “Light Assist” Cruise Control Start-Stop with Brake Energy Recuperation 16” Portland alloy wheels

Exclusive to Barons Pietermaritzburg.

Visit us on www.baronsvw.co.za

An optional cost of R950 incl VAT will be charged for metallic paint. Note: *Linked to FNB prime rate, currently 9.75%. Note: Offers calculated on the Polo 70kW TSI BlueMotion model in standard specification. Price excludes optional extras and delivery fee. Offers may not be used in conjunction with any other special service or offering. Subject to bank approval. Information subject to change without prior notification. All finance offers are subject to credit approval from Volkswagen Financial Services. Offers only available through Volkswagen Financial Services South Africa Proprietary Limited trading as Volkswagen Financial Services an Authorised Financial Services and Credit Provider. NCRCP6635. Terms and Conditions apply. All the above is subject to price increase and valid until 17 February 2016 or while stocks last.

An optional cost of R2200 incl VAT will be charged for metallic paint. Note: *Linked to FNB prime rate, currently 9.75%. Note: Offers calculated on the Tiguan TSI 90kW Trend & Fun model in standard specification.

Price excludes optional extras. Offers may not be used in conjunction with any other special service or offering. Subject to bank approval. Information subject to change without prior notification. All finance offers are subject to credit approval from Volkswagen Financial Services. Offers only available through Volkswagen Financial Services South Africa Proprietary Limited trading as Volkswagen Financial Services an Authorised Financial Services and Credit Provider. NCRCP6635. Terms and Conditions apply. All the above is subject to price increase and valid until 17 February 2016.

Silver Silver Silver White White Beige

114 900 109 900 123 900 134 900 142 900 139 900

57 000 83 000 89 000 16 500 18 000 30 000

km km km km km km

White White Red White Silver Blue

147 900 239 900 209 900 199 900 204 900 205 900

99 000 39 000 9 000 9 000 17 000 12 500

km km km km km km

Silver Red White

229 900 289 900 249 900

58 000 km 64 000 km 100 km

Silver Red

149 900 279 900

98 000 km 6 000 km

White

109 900

28 000 km

White Silver Green White Grey Red Beige

159 900 315 900 304 900 309 900 399 000 309 900 289 900

69 000 6 000 19 000 7 000 3 000 6 400 89 000

km km km km km km km

White White Gold White

93 900 189 900 79 900 195 900

124 000 km 7 000 km 99 000 km 93 000 km

*The advised price exclude the 2 year Mastercars Warranty. The Mastercars Warranty is available as an option and is a contract between the customer, an insurer and administrator. This extended Warranty is not available for all Amarok and Light Commercial Vehicle models. Terms & conditions apply. While stocks last.

Mastercars Sales Consultants: Laurie - 082 783 8040 • Rajen - 072 228 9834 • Sanjay - 083 639 0989 Barry - 072 235 4244 • Phumlani - 073 744 8350 Visit us on www.baronsvwpmb.co.za and find us on facebook.com/BaronsPietermaritzburg

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Monthly No. of Instalments Instalments

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Total Cost Incl fees & VAT

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R780,458

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WitnessWheels TRANSPORT MOTORING

February 4, 2016

Barloworld inks deal with Aspen Advanced fleet management will boost reefer trucks IN a strategic business move, Barloworld Transport has ac­ quired 51% of leading refriger­ ated transport company Asp­ en Logistic Services.

The controlling share was obtained in a successful deal between Barloworld Trans­ port chief executive Neil Hen­ derson and Aspen Logistic Services managing director Dr Sujen Padayatchi.

“We are excited to have fi­ nalised this deal with Aspen,” said Henderson.

“We have great respect for their business, which has been built from the ground up, ulti­ mately becoming one of the most respected operators in the refrigerated transport in­ dustry.”

Aspen was established in December 2000 and has grown to service a large num­ ber of customers across a wide range of manufacturers and retailers, including Famous Brands, which voted Aspen their Supplier of the Year for

Barloworld Transport’s Neil Henderson and Aspen’s MD Dr Sujen Padayatchi shake on a new deal.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED 2015. They have long served the industry as a specialist ser­ vice provider to the Fast Mov­ ing Consumer Goods (FMCG) market, transport­ ing temperature­controlled and ambient products for cli­ ents that supply products pri­ marily to the major retailers.

“Incorporating Aspen Lo­ gistic Services into our stable means we are able to broaden our specialised offerings of smart, reputable and reliable transport solutions to our cus­ tomers throughout southern Africa,” added Henderson.

Apart from the obvious

commercial benefits, both Henderson and Padayatchi note that the shared values and relationship­based busi­ ness style of both companies have been critical in forming a solid foundation for this agreement.

“The Barloworld partner­ ship made sense on many lev­ els, but primarily because there is a strong culture fit and customer­centric approach.

“We are partnership­driven and make sure we work as partners with our clients. Bar­ loworld Transport also has some of the most advanced fleet management systems and technology on the roads that will surely strengthen our business,” said Dr Sujen Pada­ yatchi, Aspen Logistic Servi­ ces managing director.

“We believe this is going to be a powerful partnership that works from a business per­ spective and most important­ ly, works for our customers.”

— Wheels Reporter.

CARING FOR THE NUT HOLDING THE WHEEL PAYS DIVIDENDS ASPEN Logistics last year start­ ed implementing the Trucking Wellness Programme among its drivers.

Speaking at the launch, MD of the company Dr Sujen Pada­ yatchi said healthy drivers were critical to maintain the cold chain and combat bacteria in the group’s fleet of refrigerated trucks that transport perisha­ ble foods overnight.

The Trucking Wellness Pro­ gramme is sponsored by Mer­ cedes­Benz South Africa and managed by Corridor Empow­ erment Project and was launched by the Road Freight Industry in 1999 to create HIV, Aids and STI awareness amongst long­distance truck drivers, commercial sex work­ ers and the vulnerable commu­ nities around truck stops.

Michelle Woods told Wheels that last year saw 41 000 driv­ ers and women at risk as­ sessed. Since 1999 the initia­ tive has HIV infections de­ crease from 20% to the current 8,9% of drivers screened. There has also been a 25% drop in sexually transmitted infections and a 34% increase in drivers and sex workers seeking treat­ ment. This means the staff

working on Trucking Wellness programmes can now focus on other diseases that impact drivers. Nurses Portia Mbatha and Sibongile Nala told Wheels that they listed their new prior­ ities as diabetes, high choles­ terol and blood pressure, be­ fore HIV and TB. • Contact Michelle Woods at info@truckingwellness.co.za for more information.

Suzuki specs up Ertiga Suzuki Auto has given its seven­seat Ertiga people mover a significant specification boost and announced the range­topping GLX model will no longer be available thanks largely to the GL’s increase in specifications.

Suzuki has kept its four­year/60 000 km service plan and three­ year/ 100 000 km warranty for all models in the range.

Pricing starts at R178k for the Ertiga 1.4 GA Manual and goes up to R219k for the auto.

PHOTO: QUICKPIC

For more information on Witness Wheels advertising Contact Avir on 084 278 3447 or Avir@witness.co.za

The Zenon Evolve’s 2,2 turbo diesel makes 320 Nm from just over idle and now provides all the trimmings inside as well.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Zenons evolve to get more spec at low price ACCORDIAN Investments, which markets Tata cars and light commer­ cials in South Africa, has launched the Evolve, a limited edition bakkie based on the Xenon XT doublecab.

Priced at R264 995, the Evolve is sold with a the 4x2 drivetrain, al­ though a 4x4 derivative can be im­ ported on special order, which will add about R35 000 to the price.

The exterior of the Evolve Special Edition has a number of important added value features including a roll­ over bar behind the cab, side steps, a front nudge bar and a tow bar as well as unique badging and a special decal package. The alloy wheels have been revised as an additional distin­ guishing feature.

The big change to the interior is luxury leather trim for the seats, while the Evolve logo also appears on the interior floor mats.

The Xenon is Tata’s new genera­ tion pick­up range and was launched locally in September 2013. The range blends modern styling, comprehen­ sive safety features, including ABS and dual front airbags, as well as a host of convenience features such as GPS navigation and Bluetooth com­ patibility, while the double cab mod­ els have lockable rear differentials and the single cab models have limit­ ed slip diffs.

Other standard equipment in­ clude electric windows, power steer­ ing, an audio system with an MP3 player and a tilt­adjustable steering column.

The Evolve is powered by a new generation 2,2­litre turbo Tata diesel engine with variable valve timing, variable turbine technology and di­ rect injection with a common fuel rail. It develops 110 kW of power at 4 000 rpm with peak torque of 320 Nm available between

1 500­3 000 rpm. Power goes to the rear wheels through a five­speed manual transmission, with the op­ tion of four­wheel drive models for harsh off­road driving.

“The Tata Xenon Evolve special edition model is an excellent exam­ ple of the way in which Tata listens to input from its customers and deal­ ers,” said Kyri Michael, the CEO of Accordian Investments.

“The use of pick­up trucks for both business and family or leisure use in South Africa continues to be a growing trend, with the buyers be­ coming increasingly demanding in terms of the level of specification they require.”

Tata offers a number of important added value features that provide customers with peace of mind. There is a four­year/120 000 km warranty, five­year/75 000 km service plan, four­year/120 000 km anti corrosion warranty and a four­year/unlimited kilometre roadside assistance.

Currently there is a countrywide network of 45 full dealers and a fur­ ther 15 Tata “touch points” in the form of service outlets, thus ensuring good national coverage for the brand.

In addition, the Tata Xenon owner benefits from a comparatively low purchase price, good fuel economy and competitive parts pricing, with the Xenon double cab having come out top for the past two years in an independent survey involving com­ petitive parts pricing.

Tata Motors, the largest vehicle manufacturer in India, began export­ ing commercial vehicles to South Af­ rica in 1998 with a fully­fledged oper­ ation starting in 2004, when passen­ ger cars were also imported. Tata Motors’ current portfolio in SA com­ prises 13 commercial vehicle models and 10 passenger car models. — WR.

Slew of new Mahindras coming David Makuna, Mahindra regional sales manager, told Wheels a slew of new Mahindras models are on their way to SA, from a two­seater “jeep” to an A­segment passenger car as well as the long­awaited Tivoli.

And are these Indian vehicles any good?

As bricks are the toughest load for a bakkie, Wheels asked a well­known brickmaker on the South Coast how he rates his three Mahindra bakkies. He told Wheels they cannot be beaten. “We drop 1,5 tons of bricks on them five days a week and then deliver all over the steep hills of South Coast. They just keep on going, with the oldest one now having 80 000 km on it,” said the owner.

PHOTO: ALWYN VILJOEN

OFFROAD MOTORING WitnessWheels

February 4, 2016

7

Ronnie Drew’s much pop­riveted Defender shows not the past, but the future of many of these easy­to­work on models.

PHOTO: ALWYN VILJOEN

Last Landy Defender Yank offroad tyres do well in Madagascar built …

4x4 in the Midlands

The members of the Midlands 4 Wheel Drive Club of Southen Africa in the Miidlands organise regular picnics, but the coolboxes only opens at the end of routes that range from just scenic to very technical. New members are always welcome and fees are nominal. To join, contact the group via their Facebook page and discover the hidden gems in KwaZulu­Natal.

PHOTO: ALWYN VILJOEN

… but the legend lives on as Land Rover invites memories of the best trips ever LAND Rover has produced the last of the current Defender mod­ els at the famous Solihull factory in England, but it is not the end of the legend.

During the ceremony that saw the last model roll off the assem­ bly line with more than 700 cur­ rent and former Solihull employ­ ees on hand, Land Rover also an­ nounced a new Heritage Restoration Programme, which will be based on the site of the existing Solihull production line.

A team of experts, including some long­serving Defender em­ ployees, will oversee the restora­ tion of a number of Series Land Rovers sourced from across the globe.

The first restored vehicles will go on sale in July 2016.

“Today we celebrate what gen­ erations of men and women have done since the outline for the Land Rover was originally drawn in the sand,” said Dr Ralf Speth, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover.

“The Series Land Rover, now Defender, is the origin of our leg­ endary capability, a vehicle that makes the world a better place, often in some of the most ex­ treme circumstances. There will always be a special place in our hearts for Defender, among all our employees, but this is not the end. We have a glorious past to champion, and a wonderful fu­ ture to look forward to.”

“This is a special day of fond celebration for Jaguar Land Rov­ er. We all have personal memo­ ries of Defender. It’s a true mo­ toring icon and is much loved around the world,” said Nick Rogers, group engineering di­

rector at Jaguar Land Rover. “The world has changed dramatically in the last 68 years, but this vehi­ cle has remained a constant – something no other vehicle can claim.

Upload your best trips Land Rover fans are invited to up­ load their most memorable jour­ neys ever undertaken in Series Land Rover or Defender vehicles via the online “Defender Jour­ neys” platform. Effectively a digi­ tal scrapbook, Land Rover aims to collate as many exciting ad­ ventures as possible into this on­ line map, which users can view and share.

Land Rover has also an­ nounced the upcoming launch of its online Defender Journeys’ platform, which will allow the legendary model to live on in a digital environment.

The innovative online hub will allow owners to upload details of their most memorable journeys in a Series Land Rover or Defend­ er from today.

The aim is to crowd source journeys from Land Rover drivers and plot them on a single online map, preserving the memories of amazing adventures that have taken place in the iconic 4x4 for future generations.

The closure of the Solihull pro­ duction line will also bring an end to Land Rover’s Celebration Line exhibit, although this too will live on.

Enthusiasts will now be able to undertake the full Defender pro­ duction line tour via a new online 360 degree virtual tool on the de­ fendertour.landrover.com

THE Voetspore team came back from Madagascar full of praise for the American offroad tyre brand Mickey Thompson.

The crew of the popular mo­ toring and travel show hosted on SABC2 used the ATZp3 on their recently­completed 9 000 km odyssey around Mad­ agascar — their 10th trip, and threw everything the island has at the Yank brand.

From tropical rain forests to desert­like dunes, the Mickey Thompson rubber fitted to a trio of Toyota Land Cruiser bak­ kies took everything in their stride. Frontman of the series Jo­ han Badenhorst said while the island could not give in distance it made up for in variety. “We were a little worried beforehand as we thought it might become a bit monotonous, but Mada­ gascar never ceased to amaze us.

“The tyres really had to cope

The Voetspore team add new meaning to Land Cruising in Madagscar.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED with anything and everything, including driving from Pretoria to Durban and then back to Pre­ toria three months apart and tackling mud, rocks, sand, pot­

holes, river crossings and nar­ row ‘Zebu­cart’ cattle tracks in between,” Badenhorst ex­ plained.

Despite each vehicle having

an all­in weight approaching four tons, the adventurers confi­ dently deflated the tyres down to 1,5 Bar, and ran at that setting for the duration of their stay on the planet’s fourth­largest is­ land.

At the end of it all the sole “issue” was one slow puncture — the result of large cacti en­ countered in the southern­most reaches of the island.

“We probably did about 1 000 km in low­range so the conditions were truly hardcore, and proper 4x4ing skills and equipment were required.

“I can’t fault the tyres on any score and when we got back on tar — even wet tar — the grip was excellent and the noise lev­ els low. And judging by the mini­ mal wear, it looks like these will be good for our next expedition too,” said Badenhorst.

— Supplied.

Two dozen made­in­SA vehicles raced Dakar CHARMAIN FORTUNE THE Donaldson Cross Country Motor Racing Championship was again the launch pad for an impressive South African suc­ cess rate at this year’s Dakar Ral­ ly, the toughest motorsport event in the world.

South African designed and built vehicles accounted for 60% of the first 40 finishers in the car category.

Among the 24 South African built cars to make it to the finish were 17 Toyota Hilux models, two Ford Rangers, two Century Racing CR5 entries, two Renault Dusters and a Red­Lined Motor­ sport Nissan Navara.

International teams also crewed two Ford Rangers built in Pietermaritzburg by Neil Woolridge Motorsport with Spaniards Xavier Pons and Ri­ cardo Torlaschi finishing 29th, and Chileans Daniel Mas Valdes and Juan Pablo Latrach Vinagre 34th.

The two Fords were run by

Cenruty Racing mehanics working hard to replace the racing clutch in minutes. PHOTO: SUPPLIED South African Scott Abrahams’ South Racing company, based in Germany, which also provided logistics for Red­Lined Motor­ sport.

The 17 Toyota Hilux finishers on the Dakar Rally were either

built by Toyota Motorsport team principal Glyn Hall and his team of professionals at the Hallspeed facility in Midrand, or assembled overseas by Over­ drive and other teams using de­ signs and components supplied

by Hallspeed. Two Toyota Ga­ zoo Racing SA entries built in Midrand finished in the top 10 and another five locally built or sourced cars finished in the top 20.

Two Century Racing CR5 en­ tries were designed and built at the Century Racing workshop in Midrand, with Matthews and Burke winners of last year’s Da­ kar Challenge which formed part of the Donaldson champi­ onship.

Two Renault Dusters built by Thompson Racing at Kyalami finished 18th and 19th.

Red­Lined Motorsport is also based in Kyalami with South Af­ ricans Sean Reitz and Riaan Greyling, and the German fa­ ther/son pairing of Jurgen and Daniel Schröder out in a pair of Nissan Navaras.

More than 100 South African engineers, technicians and ser­ vice crew helped keep the South African and other teams run­ ning throughout an event.

—sacrosscountryracing.co.za

WitnessWheels MOTORING

RACING

8

February 4, 2016

Flatter learning curve Micro and Mini Max Rotax Engines adds intermediate karting engines for SA STUART JOHNSTON ROTAX has introduced two new junior karting engines for young­ sters to smooth the way to racing stardom: The new Micro Max and Mini Max classes Rotax, makers of the world’s most successful and reliable kart­ ing engines, have introduced two new racing classes for youngsters determined to make their mark in the exacting world of motor racing.

For the past four decades kart­ ing has provided the springboard for international motor racing success, spawning F1 champions like Lewis Hamilton and our own Jody Scheckter, and today things are more competitive than ever, with young girls and boys barely old enough to start school cut­ ting their teeth in karting.

Indeed, South Africa has long subscribed to this philosophy of “start them while they’re young” and we currently run champion­ ships for kids aged between five to eight years old in various re­ gions.

These so­called “Cadet” class karts employ 50 cc engines tuned to produce 3 kW, and it is a treat to see fields of up to 20 of these children barrelling around a track with crash helmets that seem to be as broad as their young shoul­ ders. Long­time Rotax importer Ed Murray said the next step up for these youngsters is into the 60 cc National Championship classes, for drivers aged from eight to 13 years old.

“The biggest problem with these classes — and they now boast national championship status — is that the step up in power is huge,” said Murray.

“From 3 kW, the young driver suddenly finds himself having to cope with 9 kW from a highly­ tuned 60 cc engine — that’s three times the power.

“It may not sound like much to an adult, but when you are eight years old it is a frightening step.

“This is where Rotax comes in, with its new Micro Max engine, paving the way for an intermedia­ ry step up the karting ladder,” said Murray

Cameron Dias (11) PHOTO: SUPPLIED

DIAS DOES SOUTH AFRICA PROUD CONTACT For more information on the new Micro Max and Mini Max karting classes, visit www.kart.co.za or contact Jennifer Verheul on 082 294 7485.

A young carter gets some last minute advice before racing starts.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED Restricted power The Micro Max karting engine, designed for drivers aged 7­10, is yet another variation on the Ro­ tax formula for success that sees the same basic engine used across a whole age­group range, with easy­to­facilitate but telling changes made to the engines to restrict or increase power.

The Micro Max engine still em­ ploys the same 125 cc capacity as its more powerful brothers in the Rotax series that sees steps in power all the way up to 22 kW in the top single­gear engine run in the Senior Max series for driv­ ers 15 years and older.

But the Micro Max motor, al­ though using the same bullet­ proof cylinder and engine casing, has restrictors employed to re­ duce its power output to 6 kW. This is achieved by introduc­ ing a thick spacer under the cylin­

der to reduce compression and combustion area squish, adding a very small exhaust restrictor, and using a non­expansion­box exhaust system, which effectively does away with any supercharg­ ing effect as enjoyed by the more highly tuned two strokes.

In addition the radiator em­ ployed is much smaller on the Micro Max engine.

This engine is designed to fit on the kart chassis currently used in the 60 cc Maxterino and Mini Rok classes.

The advantage of this is that this chassis can still be used if the competitor wants to compete in the more powerful 60 cc classes, run for eight to 13­year­olds at National Championships.

And theMicro Max engine can also be used for the next step up, where it is easily up­graded with inexpensive parts.

For karters aged 10­13 RotaxMini Max, for karters aged 10­13, is the next step up the kart­ ing ladder after Maxterino/Mini Rok/Micro Max. The same base Rotax engine is employed, but with less restriction.

A racing expansion­box type exhaust (the identical one used in Junior and Senior Max classes) and a larger diameter exhaust re­ strictor is employed and power for Mini Max now rises to 11 kW. This is the ideal stepping stone towards the Junior Max class (for 13­16­year­olds), where again there is a big power hike to 15 kW. This newMini Maxclass will em­ ploy the same chassis as used in the 60cc National classes.

The advantage for some driv­ ers will be that the weight limit moves from the 110 kg of the 60 cc class to 125 kg.

Many youngsters suffer

Cycling body confirms first ‘techno doping’ THE International Cycling Un­ ion (UCI) confirmed this week it had found the first case of “techno doping” when an elec­ tric motor was found packed into the frame of Belgian rider Femke van den Driessche’s bicycle.

UCI president Brian Cookson told a news conference: “It’s ab­ solutely clear that there was tech­ nological fraud.

“There was a concealed motor.

I don’t think there are any secrets about that.”

The race was won by Britain’s Evie Richards but Cookson said the matter “does not concern any of the riders on the podium.”

“The International Cycling Union confirms that pursuant to the UCI’s Regulations on tech­ nological fraud a bike has been detained for further investiga­ tion following checks at the Women’s Under 23 race of the 2016 UCI Cyclo­cross World Championships,” the UCI said.

Technological fraud carries a minimum six­month suspension

Femke van den Driessche with the alleged electrically powered bike in world cycling’s first case of “techno doping” during a championship race. PHOTO: SCREEN GRAB and a fine of between 20 000 to 200 000 Swiss francs (over R3,1 million).

Last year UCI president Brian Cookson said that he believed such bikes may have been used

in the past. In December this was echoed by the UCI’s new techni­ cal manager Mark Barfield.

Van den Driessche was among the race favorites, but was forced to withdraw from the women’s

under­23 race because of a me­ chanical problem toward the end.

Van den Driessche denied she had on purpose used a bike with a concealed motor, saying that it was identical to her own but be­ longed to a friend and that a team mechanic had given it to her by mistake before the race, AFP re­ ported.

“It wasn’t my bike, it was that of a friend and was identical to mine,” a tearful Van den Dries­ sche told Belgian TV channel Sporza, AFP reported.

“This friend went around the course Saturday before dropping off the bike in the truck.

“A mechanic, thinking it was my bike, cleaned it and prepared it for my race,” she added, insist­ ing that she was “totally una­ ware” it was fitted with a hidden motor.

“I feel really terrible. I’m aware I have a big problem. [But] I have no fears of an inquiry into this.

I have done nothing wrong,” she added. — Reuters­AFP.

growth spurts at this stage of their lives and the 125 kg weight limit will be easier to make.

“The Micro Max engine pro­ vides an easy to drive flat power curve that assists youngsters to recover from mistakes easily and Rotax’s legendary reliability comes to the fore in real cost sav­ ings,” says Ed Murray.

“Although a Micro Max en­ gine costs more than its 50 or 60 cc rivals the running costs are a fraction of conventional mo­ tors thanks to modern materials and very low stress levels.

“There is even a cost saving on oil consumption — 50% less — and it’s kinder to the environ­ ment in noise and air pollution.”

New classes in next races It is planned to introduce the two new classes over the course of the 2016 season, and already young­

CAMERON Dias, an 11­year­old kar­ ter from Vereeniging, took part in an invitational Mini Max race at the recent 2015 Rotax Max Chal­ lenge Grand Finals, held at Porti­ mao, on the Algarve coast of Por­ tugal.

Although she had never seen the circuit before and was up against top local Portuguese and Spanish drivers totalling a field of some 35 drivers, Cameron, racing as a Portuguese national, did South Africa proud by finishing fourth.

Cameron was on hand to try the new Micro Max engine at the dem­ onstration run on home soil at Zwartkops in January and natural­ ly was highly complimentary about the prospect of both Micro max and the Mini Max classes coming to South Africa. sters are enthralled by the new Micro Max and Mini Max class­ es, many of them having sampled the new engines at a club race meeting demonstration outing in January 2016.

“This is the future of karting, where we introduce affordable, ultra­reliable engines to an age group where enthusiasm is at its peak, and where youngsters and parents don’t want their race weekends hampered by reliabili­ ty issues or forever running­in engines after rebuilds.

“With these engines running in such low states of tune, and with no modifications of any type allowed in any of the Rotax classes, the emphasis will all be about the driver, which is the way Rotax intended it to be when it started this amazing engine se­ ries 18 years ago.,” said Murray.

• stujohn@netactive.co.za

PIRELLI HOSTS VITAL MEETING WITH DRIVERS ON F1 TYRES LONDON — Pirelli to set to host a meeting of Formula One’s key stakeholders in Milan to discuss how the sport wants the tyres to perform in future.

Formula One is currently plan­ ning a rewriting of the rules from 2017 to improve the show with faster and more aggressive­look­ ing cars. Drivers have said repeat­ edly that they want tyres that let them race flat out from start to finish rather than the current quick­wearing ones that require careful management over a dis­ tance.

Pirelli said in a statement the meeting, to be held at the com­ pany’s headquarters, would “dis­ cuss target tyre performance guidelines”.

“Pirelli sees this meeting as be­ ing of vital importance in order to further consolidate the close collaboration that got underway last year with the [governing] FIA, FOM [commercial rights holder], and the drivers,” it added.

Formula One’s sole supplier said the technical aspects would become ever more complex in 2017 and that would require more on­track testing. “This is a factor that has been extremely limited in recent years, despite the im­ portant evolution of the cars and subsequent increase in perform­ ance,” the company said.

“All these are vital steps to­ wards tyre development that takes into account the future evolution of the cars and added performance, which will be par­ ticularly notable in 2017.”

— Reuters.

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