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

New Russian GP this weekend (Pycckaya Fopmyla 1)

Sochi F1

The newest F1 race on the 2014 calendar is the inaugural GP on the Sochi Autodrom (hence my impeccable Russian at the start of this article). A 5.853 km lap and the race will be held over 53 laps.
The circuit is in the Black Sea resort town of Sochi in Krasnodar Krai, Russia. The circuit is similar to Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and the Sydney Olympic Park Circuit in that it will run around a venue used for Olympic competition; in this case, the Sochi Olympic Park site, scene of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games. The inaugural race is the first year of a seven-year contract and will be the third longest circuit on the F1 calendar, behind Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium and Silverstone in the UK.
Qualifying is on Saturday at 6 p.m. Thai time, and the race is 6 p.m. on the Sunday.
We will be watching from our perches at Jameson’s Irish Pub (Soi AR, next to Nova Park) and even though the racing commences at 6 p.m. join us around 5 p.m. for dinner (I do recommend the roasts), and a beer and a chat before the race begins. We watch on the giant screen, with the dedicated F1 channel which is of top value and there are no adverts during the race!
 

Honda goes +R

Honda +R

Revealed at the Paris Motor Show was the Honda Civic Type R, saying that this new car will usher in a new performance era for the brand.
The 2016 Civic Type R will be powered by a 2.0 liter i-VTEC engine from the company’s Earth Dreams Technology family and will produce over 275 hp thanks to a turbocharger helping boost low-end power delivery. But even more important, Honda is saying the Civic Type-R and its powerplant “is unrivalled against” all previous Type R models including the Civic, Integra, Accord and NSX. Now while 275 BHP is not to be sneered at, there are many other engines that can deliver that number of horses, including the now older SR20 DET from the Sylvia range.
Chief engineer Suehiro Hasshi, said the model’s appeal will be far greater than just a new high-performance engine. The 2016 Civic Type R boasts numerous engineering innovations and enhancements that will make it a “true driver’s car, worthy of wearing the famous red ‘H’ badge.”
Honda revealed that the Civic Type R will feature a +R button, similar to the BMW’s M button. Once activated, the +R mode will heighten engine response while torque-mapping will be changed to a more aggressive and performance-focused setting. In addition, steering will become more responsive and along with the Adaptive Damping System, the Civic Type R will offer the ultimate handling experience.
“In default standard mode, the Civic Type R is exceptionally agile, an everyday sports car with an enjoyable and fluid acceleration,” said Hasshi. “The ‘+R’ button brings out a more dynamic and athletic car for the driver. The difference in character is immense. The ‘+R’ mode is extreme; the car is ideal for track use and will be appreciated by the genuine sports-driving enthusiast.”

What did we learn from the Japanese GP?

Well, we learned that motor racing is still dangerous with Bianchi’s accident, and when it rains in Japan it really does rain.
Niki Lauda expressed the general feeling in the pits when he said, “We get used to it when nothing happens and then suddenly we are all surprised. This accident today is a coming together of various different things. One car goes off, the tractor comes out and the next car comes off, and this was very unfortunate.”
Of course, this does raise the question as to the track safety procedures and the drivers’ implementation of safety features expected of them. Sutil went off on lap 40 and the tractor came out to remove his car. I believe double yellows were then displayed before that point, which relay to the following drivers that there is great danger, be prepared to stop. Bianchi then unfortunately slid off on lap 41 while under the double waved yellows, and hit the tractor, resulting in his head injury.
Yellow flags must be obeyed for the safety of the drivers, which is not always the case. At the time of writing this report, I do not have a full picture of the situation, other than the fact that Bianchi slid off the track one lap later than Sutil’s accident. We all hope that Bianchi can make a full recovery, but I would not expect him to see him racing again this year.
The Suzuka paddock was all agog with the news that the driver, formerly known as The Finger, was leaving Red Bull, and his seat was to be taken by the young Russian Daniil Kvyat. This did not surprise me at all. The blow to Vettel’s ego was terminal. A very expensive, four times world champion gets beaten by his younger team mate, who is being paid peanuts. If Vettel does go to Ferrari, his salary will be much less!
So is Alonso leaving Ferrari? He has certainly been unhappy there and his talent is being wasted. But where can he go? The only teams that could offer him the chance of winning are Williams and McLaren, and a move to Woking would have to be the more logical, turfing Button (now too old) out of his seat there.
So to the race and Suzuka under a typhoon. Much palaver that the race should have been brought forward and started a few hours earlier, by people who should know better. With an international event such as a Grand Prix, the starting time is fixed and world television schedules are worked around the fixed starting time. Even the spectators at the circuit who have purchased tickets expect a starting time as advertised. Rocking up to find the organizers started the race two hours ago is just not correct, nor practical. Once the starting time is published, that’s it!
The Mercedes team were head and shoulders above everyone, and Hamilton with his win (not faultless) showed he is World Champion elect for this year. Rosberg had no answer.
Third was Vettel, while it was his team mate Ricciardo who was third when the race was stopped. Unfortunately when races are stopped under a red flag, the positions are taken from the start of the previous lap, when Vettel actually was third and Ricciardo fourth. You win some, and you lose some!
Button drove a very clever race into fifth with excellent calls as to when to change tyres, beating the Williams of Bottas and Massa by a considerable margin.
And Alonso? Stopped on lap two behind the safety car. And you wonder why he wants to leave Ferrari?
The next race is this weekend in Russia.

Thailand’s Buriram gets F1 license

In an amazing turnaround, the new circuit at Buriram (now called the Chang International Circuit) has been awarded a top grade by the FIA. I have seen the license certificate which came after track inspection by Tim Schenken (FIA representative and an ex-F1 driver from Australia) and signed by Jean Todt, the president of the FIA. The circuit license is for three years.
The next step will be for Thailand to apply for a round of the F1 world championship. To be given a slot requires a sack full of money, but Nevin Chidchop in Buriram seems to have a bottomless pit of available money. And to give the man his due, he envisaged the circuit and has made it happen.
A round of the Retro Championship, in which I run with the TBX Escort Mk 1, is scheduled for November 7-8-9, and I am looking forward to competing on the new circuit. Just a shame it is so far from Pattaya.

Cars and bikes - which is faster?

Kawasaki ER6n

The recent comparison between cars and bikes around a circuit involved the latest Subaru WRX STI which had been driven around the famous Isle Of Man (IOM) course of almost 38 miles.
Subaru’s recent PR blurb stated that the new WRX STI in the hands of British rally champion Mark Higgins had managed to go around the IOM TT course in 19 minutes and 26 seconds to set a “new four wheeled lap record around the savage Isle of Man TT circuit.”
When you do the calculations, you will find that despite being fitted with a 305 horsepower turbocharged 2.5 liter four cylinder engine, the much vaunted new WRX STI took 1166 seconds to travel 37.75 miles, which works out at 116.552 mph average.
So now to the bikes. Bruce Anstey from NZ set a new absolute Isle of Man TT lap record of 17m 06.682s - two minutes and 19 seconds faster than the WRX STI.
Anstey, riding a Honda Fireblade, covered the TT course on his final of six laps in the Superbike TT, at 132.298 mph.
So, what about some other bikes in lower categories? Well, even the 600cc Supersport machines are running around 128 mph.
The Lightweight TT, which is dominated by the $13,000 Kawasaki ER6n has a lap record of 119.130 mph set by James Hillier on a Kawasaki ER6n in 2013 while this year’s Lightweight TT race average speed was 117.460 mph (Dean Harrison, Kawasaki ER6n).
American Car & Driver magazine reports that the “305 hp, 2.5 liter turbo-four paired with a six-speed manual, limited-slip differentials, and torque vectoring to keep the STI glued to the road. The result is one extremely solid and stable platform, but it comes at the price of a punishing ride - and a punishing price - $US 27,090 base price.”
Makes the $12,995 Kawasaki ER6n look like a real performance bargain!
 

Natter Nosh and Noggin

The Pattaya car club meets at Jameson’s Irish Pub on Soi AR next to Nova Park. The next meeting is on Monday October 13 at Jameson’s at 7 p.m. A totally informal meeting of like-minded souls to discuss their pet motoring (and motorcycling) loves and hates (plus lies and outright exaggerations). Come along and meet the guys who have a common interest in cars and bikes, and enjoy the Jameson’s specials, washed down with a few beers. A couple of the members were scrutineers at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, so they may have some scuttlebutt about the F1 scene, and one is just back from driving around Australia towing a caravan! Always a fun night. Be prepared to laugh a lot at some of the antics of the members - when they were younger! The Car Club nights are only on the second Monday of the month (not every second Monday).

Autotrivia Quiz

Last week I asked what car do these public figures have in common? Jay Leno, Paul Newman, Elvis Presley, Weird Al Jankovic and Princess Margaret. They all had a Nash Metropolitan!
By the way, the answer to the disappearing headlights had more than one correct answer, and I thank all of you for the research. I was looking for the Oldsmobile Toronado (not Tornado), but some Buick models also had that feature.
So to this week. What did the original FIAT 500 have in common with the 1961 Lincoln Continental?
For the Automania free beer this week, be the first correct answer to email [email protected].