AUTO MANIA: by Dr. Iain Corness [email protected]

Brazil GP this weekend

The Abu Dhabi Yas Marina grand prix circuit hosts the GP this weekend. Abu Dhabi is the most oil-rich in the region and the 5.55 kilometer Yas Marina Circuit has been built using the motorists’ money, extracted at the petrol pumps. Roll on electric power! It was also one of the most boring race tracks and has been universally christened ‘Yawn’ Marina.
Located on Yas Island, the PR blurb said the track was set to revolutionize the design of future Formula One circuits. Boasting top speeds of 320 km/h and average speeds of 198 km/h, it features nine right turns and 11 left turns and is one of the few venues on the calendar to run in an anti-clockwise direction.
It was designed by circuit architect Hermann Tilke (so need I say more?), and Yas Marina has a waterfront setting scenic enough to rival the likes of Monaco and Valencia, complete with a hotel that even changes color, but was just as boring as that former pair of venues.
All of the grandstands, including the massive hairpin seating area, are covered to protect spectators from the desert sun, whilst the state-of-the-art pit building boasts 40 garages.
As well as the waterside marina area, there are high-speed sections, tight corners for overtaking, and even a twisty street circuit-style sector. However, none of this prevents Yas (Yawn) Marina from being boring if the F1 cars cannot pass each other.
The race will start at 8 p.m. our time Sunday (also 8 p.m. Saturday for Qualifying), and I will be getting to Jameson’s Irish Pub around 7 p.m. for a bite to eat (Sunday roast is great value) and a glass or two. Come and join us for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix which we watch on the big screen with streaming from the dedicated F1 channel, with no adverts after the race starts. Jameson’s Irish Pub is on Soi AR, next to Nova Park serviced apartments.

Pro Racing Series at Bira this weekend

Retro Racers at Bira.

Another mixed bag at the local Bira Circuit this weekend. Some motorcycles on Saturday, plus Qualifying for the four wheel brigade, and racing on Sunday for cars only. The usual full range of classes, including our Retro cars. However, as this goes to press, they have scheduled the two retro races with the first one on the Sunday morning at 8.30 and last one on the Sunday afternoon at 5 p.m. Quite clearly this is nonsense, and we are trying to get the times changed, but we aren’t holding our breath!

Aston Martin considering GT3 road-racer

Aston Martin is reportedly looking at building a road/race version of its current V12 Vantage S, with the use of lightweight materials giving the increased performance.
Aston Martin engineering boss Ian Minards suggests that significant weight loss is possible from the existing 1665 kg V12 Vantage S. “It would be relatively easy to lose 100 kg from the current car. That much could be saved by removing the air conditioning, simplifying the interior and fitting lightweight seats.”
Following a similar approach to Porsche with its 911 GT3, such a car would build on Aston’s significant experience with racing the Vantage in production-based categories. Of course, Porsche has been down the lightweight performance gain many times before. Remember the 1973 RS Carrera which was 60 kg lighter than the standard 911.
Aston CEO Ulrich Bez also suggests there’s more to be squeezed out of the 6.0 liter V12 than the current 421 kW/620 Nm outputs. Such an improvement to the V12 Vantage S’ power/weight ratio could exceed the current 911 GT3 and approach that of the Ferrari 458, and could see the Vantage S zero to 100 km/h coming significantly under 3.9 seconds.
However the project is still in conceptual form and yet to be given the go-ahead from Aston management, which would make any production debut in 2015 at the earliest.

Another Fugly from Porsche

As if the Panamera wasn’t ugly enough, Porsche have excelled themselves with the new Macan SUV released at the Los Angeles show.
A specification sheet, leaked by Autohome in China, compares the power outputs and kerb weights of the Macan S, Macan S Diesel and Macan Turbo.
The spec sheet notes the entry level Macan S twin-turbo 3.0 liter engine as developing 246 kW of power and 459 Nm of torque, while the diesel model’s 3.0 liter V6 develops 180 kW and 580 Nm. The Macan Turbo’s twin-turbo direct-injection 3.6 liter V6 produces 294 kW and 548 Nm of torque.
The Macan, as well as being fat and ugly, is also heavy. The diesel weighs in at 1898 kg, the Macan S is 1928 kg and the Macan Turbo is 1947 kg.

Driving in Thailand - in “Farang, the Sequel”

If you have never heard of or seen the book “Farang, the Sequel”, don’t worry, because you have now. It’s a brilliant book, even if I say so myself (because I wrote it), but amongst the chapters there are ones on driving in Thailand, about which you will all agree with my sentiments.
It has been said many times that when it comes to road accidents, the prime rule is “Farang pays”. I do not disagree with that at all, but the more savvy you get, the less you have to pay. Take for an example, my brush with a 10 year old on a motorcycle. And I quote from the book, “I was coming home and crossing a suburban road. I looked down to my right and it seemed to be clear. Three quarters of the way across I suddenly saw a motorcycle coming at me on the wrong side of the road and he was unable to stop and gently bumped my front mudguard. The rider was about 10 years of age and his pillion, his little brother, was around eight. Neither was hurt, although the rider had twisted his ankle and was limping slightly. (In retrospect, I wonder if they have limping lessons in the Thai school curriculum?)
“Getting out of my car, I forgot all about ‘jai yen’ and my farang indignation boiled over. I had been run into by a damn 10 year old who could have no license and on the wrong side of the road. This was not my fault.
“However, I had forgotten the ‘farang pays’ rule. This stems from the ingrained concept in Thailand that if the farang hadn’t been there, the accident would never have happened.
“In short order, since I ignored their demands that I pay for the (slight) damage to the motorcycle, the police arrived, an ambulance arrived and a tow truck arrived. Honestly, none of these players in this scenario of stupidity were required, but it was my stupidity that was compounding all this.
“I got down from my high horse, rang the insurance company and within 30 minutes their representative arrived and everything was smoothed over. For a paltry 5,000 baht the parents of the ‘injured’ boy were appeased, the policeman forgot about the fact that the boy was underage, the ambulance and tow truck left the scene and everyone was happy again. Other than me.
“I should have kept my cool, smiled and apologized a lot, and looked as if I was interested in the welfare of the boy. Then, if I had given the parents 1,000 baht I would have been away and home in time for tea. There are ways of doings things in Thailand which must be followed, at the risk of your own (financial) peril.”

Sebastien Loeb

Sebastien Loeb

Did you catch the fact that multiple time World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb came second in the Porsche Carrera Cup final at Macau this month? He had never driven a Porsche Cup car before, and had never driven at Macau before. What would he do in an F1 car with a bit of practice? He was the ideal man to replace Kimi Raikkonen, though I believe that the FIA would not grant him a Super License to allow him to drive F1. Just another oafish decision by the FIA.
 

Whzzzzzz, Formula E is here

Electric race cars are being promoted by the FIA using fully-electric single-seater race cars capable of speeds in excess of 225 km/h.
A report, released by professional services firm EY, has analyzed the global value of the FIA Formula E Championship, claiming that the new zero emission race series will help contribute to the additional sale of 77 million Electric Vehicles (EV) worldwide over the next 25 years (2015-2040).
Amongst the future predictions were that the additional sale of 77m EVs would lead to €142 million extra worldwide sales for the car industry and the creation of 42,000 permanent jobs. From an environmental impact, this would lead to the saving of four billion oil barrels - the equivalent of Japan’s current consumption over 2.5 years, together with the prevention of 900 million tonnes of CO2 - comparable to Italy’s current annual emissions over two years. Meanwhile, the resulting social impacts forecast savings of €25 billion on healthcare costs and productivity from the reduction of pollution in cities and a significant improvement in quality of life. (However, I find this degree of looking into the future is similar to Gypsy Petulengro and her crystal ball, and probably just as accurate. I also find it difficult to believe that people will get excited by cars with no exhaust sound and only a whzzzzzzzzzzzz).

Autotrivia Quiz

Quiz car

Last week I asked which car’s owner’s manual advised the ordinary motorist to take off in top gear as there was too much torque for him to handle in the lower ratios? It was the Invicta Black Prince.
So to this week. In an attempt to make this a little harder for you, can you please identify this car. The one behind is an MG TC, I want the one in front.
For the Automania free beer this week, be the first correct answer to email [email protected].