Valencia Grand Prix this weekend
Valencia, racing around the docks
A return venue this weekend, with the
‘round the houses’ of Valencia for the European Grand Prix.
This was a new circuit a couple of years ago for the F1
circus and it has been universally boring every time. Monaco
without the boat harbor. Or the mystique. Yet, here it is
still on the calendar. Money has been paid under the table?
(Or was that pesetas?) Surely not, in the clean and pure
environment of Formula 1.
After one boring race in Valencia, our
Editor at Large, John Weinthal even suggested there must
have been a street sign saying “Welcome to Valencia - please
drive carefully - no overtaking!”
I have the sinking feeling that we will
all be annoyed at the lack of racing, but, ever the
optimist, I will be watching.
The Qualifying is at 7 p.m. on Saturday
26 and the race is 7 p.m. on Sunday 27. We watch the racing,
on the big screen in Jameson’s Irish Pub, Soi AR, next to
Nova Park. We get there around 6 p.m. and have something to
eat (the Sunday carvery is great value) and a small drink or
two before the start. Why don’t you come and join us.
SuperCar at Bira this weekend
Thomas Raldorf and Subaru Impreza
The SuperCar promoters are running
another meeting (Rounds 3 and 4) at the Prince Bira Circuit
on Highway 36, just outside Pattaya this weekend. A mixed
clutch of categories, including the very professional
SuperCars themselves. One car to watch in this group is Tom
Raldorf’s Pizza Company sponsored Subaru Impreza which has
been overcoming its teething problems, and I expect to see
this driver on the podium this weekend. Having driven this
car in private practice recently, I can vouch for the
potential of this Subaru.
Autotrivia
Quiz
Last week I asked what is the name of the
Chevrolet Spark “clone” sold in Thailand? The answer was the
Chery QQ, with the Spark being built in the same factory as
the QQ (I believe). Always remember the Chinese copyright
rule - “It is our right to copy!”
So to this week. Two Japanese sports cars
had pop-up headlights when they were released. However, in
1994 and then again in 1998, they both reverted to exposed
headlights. What were these cars?
For the Automania FREE beer this week, be
the first correct answer to email [email protected]
Good luck!
London to
Brighton - or Brighton to London?
The Royal Automobile Club has launched
the Brighton to London Future Car Challenge (BLFCC), a new
motoring contest for electric, hybrid and low-emission
internal combustion engine passenger cars to use the lowest
energy on a 60 mile route from Madeira Drive, Brighton to
Pall Mall and Regent Street, London. The BLFCC will be held
on Saturday, November 6, the day before the Club’s world
famous London to Brighton Veteran Car Run (LBVCR).
Starting at Madeira Drive this unique
live event will use the traditional, but in reverse, 60 mile
veteran car run route for a formal finish in Pall Mall and
onto a special ceremonial finish and presentation in Regent
Street, joining the assembled display of 125 pre 1905 motor
cars in the traditional LBVCR International Concours in
front of an estimated 250,000 audience.
The event is not a race but a challenge
to demonstrate overall new-energy performance with the
participating cars being judged on their minimum energy
impact during the run.
The BLFCC is open to road-legal, concept,
development, pre-production and production four-wheel
passenger cars that feature and promote new/alternative
energy in the following three category types:
1. Electric (EV)
2. Hybrid (HEV)
3. Internal Combustion Engine up to
110g/km CO2 emission fuelled by any legal means (ICE).
Up to 100 entries are expected for this
inaugural event from manufacturers, institutions, individual
motoring pioneers and private owners. The event will be
staged, promoted and judged in the above three categories.
Within each category, entries will be measured in various
modes for their energy used during the event route from
Madeira Drive to Pall Mall. The challenge will be to
complete the event with the least energy impact.
Each category winner will receive an
engraved Royal Automobile Club trophy and the overall winner
will receive the coveted Royal Automobile Club Gold Medal.
There will also be an award for the best private entry and
each classified finisher will receive a Club medal and
certificate.
The BLFCC will be judged by the events
Technical Panel consisting of: Ben Cussons, chairman (the
Royal Automobile Club Motoring Committee); Richard
Parry-Jones (Industry); John Wood (Institution of Mechanical
Engineers); Dr Ricardo Martinez-Botas (Imperial College
London); Steve Cropley (Autocar) and John Hilton (Flybrid
Systems).
Sir David Prosser, Chairman of the Royal
Automobile Club said, “The Brighton to London Future Car
Challenge will actively promote and challenge new cleaner
energy technology and reflect on the pioneering start of
motoring in 1896 - the very first London to Brighton
motoring event. Just as the pioneering Emancipation Run of
November 1896 demonstrated the capabilities of the then new
found horseless carriage, this new event provides the
platform to promote and demonstrate the first radical change
of the power of the motor car since that day.”
Termites
applaud Morgan construction methods
Wood-framed Morgan
I was sent a few photographs of the
current British Morgan cars under construction, and was
amazed to see they are still continuing with wood-framed
bodies, dropped over a metal chassis. Whilst it is pleasing
to see that some of the old coachbuilder’s skills are still
being used, it also prompts the question “Why?”
With carbon-fiber composites now
commonplace, why continue with wood? Modern construction
techniques are better in every way, from the engineering
point of view, but no nostalgia, I suppose. I am amazed that
the ‘greenies’ haven’t descended upon the Morgan factory
demanding they stop cutting down trees!
Le Mans
Classic 2010
For some people, F1 is not the epitome of
motorsport, but the 24 hours of Le Mans is. It has an
impeccable history, and that history is still being acted
out today. There are drivers from 30 countries competing in
the Le Mans Classic for older vehicles, with 230 drivers
from the UK alone.
Lotus XI
The cars which will be running include
such classics as a 1971 Porsche 917, 1968 Ford GT40 (more
than one of them), 1956 Lotus XI, 1953 C Type Jaguar, 1934
MG K3, 1959 Aston Martin DBR1, 1955 Austin Healey 100S, 1964
Ferrari 250 LM, 1964 AC Cobra, 1929 Blower Bentley, 1931
Invicta S, Morgans, Jowetts and so the list goes on.
Incredible to think that there is still that level of
commitment for the historic classics. I just wish I could be
there. The dates are July 9, 10 and 11.
Citroen
returns to the DS label
Citroen has confirmed that the DS badge
is back. Now on sale in Europe, the premium three-door
French hatchback called the DS3 has a choice of diesel or
three petrol engines, three transmissions and a selection of
customization options.
Citroen DS3
Expected to compete directly with Mini’s
entry-level Cooper hatch with a starting price of about
A$32,000 is the base DS3 1.4i, powered by a 70 kW 1.4 liter
four cylinder petrol engine that will be available
exclusively with a five-speed manual transmission.
Next up will be the midrange DS3 1.6i 88,
which comes with a - you guessed it - 1.6-litre petrol
engine from the Mini, delivering the same 88 kW of peak
power. It will be offered only with a conventional
five-speed automatic transmission.
Topping the DS3 range, for now, is a 115
kW version of the 128 kW turbocharged 1.6 liter petrol four
that powers the Mini Cooper S, this time matched exclusively
with a six-speed manual in the top-shelf DS3 1.6i 115.
Diesel versions of the DS3 are on offer
in Europe, while a hotter turbo-petrol derivative - aimed
directly at Mini’s 155 kW John Cooper Works models - is also
on the cards, previewed by the 147 kW DS3 Racing hot-hatch
concept at the Geneva motor show in March.
While all DS3s measure 3948 mm long and
1737 mm wide, the auto-only naturally aspirated 1.6 has
134mm of ground clearance, reducing to 130mm for the
entry-level 1.4 manual and 126mm for the 1.6 turbo flagship.
Apart from stiffer suspension with 15 mm
lower ride height, Citroen’s DS3 Racing-based JCW rival
should score new front and rear shock absorbers, 30 mm-wider
wheel tracks, 18 inch alloy wheels with 205/40-section tyres,
retuned steering, and electronic stability control systems.
When it joins the range next year, the
range-topping DS3, final assembly of which will take place
in a special workshop dedicated to the first performance DS
model, will also wear a specific bodykit comprising lower
front and side skirts and special chequered graphics on the
roof, bootlid and fuel flap, with other changes extending to
chromed door-handles and exhaust outlets.
Inside, the DS3 Racing concept gained
carbon-fiber trim on its dashboard, centre console, steering
wheel and door moldings, a numbered plate in its roof lining
and the Citroen Racing logo on the backs of its unique
sports seats, while its bright orange exterior paint color
scheme theme was echoed on the dash and gearknob.
All three initial examples of the
five-seater DS3 will come with a braked towing capacity of
1150 kg (570 kg unbraked), with naturally aspirated versions
riding on 16x6.0 inch alloy wheels with 195/55 tyres. The
1.6i 115 will come with 17x7.0 inch alloys with 205/45 R17
tyres.
Standard equipment for all models will
include twin front, front-side and curtain airbags,
electronic stability control, ABS brakes, front/rear fog
lights, air-conditioning, power windows/mirrors and remote
central locking.
In line with the premium positioning of
Citroen’s all-new DS model line, which takes its name from
the iconic French model sold between 1955 and 1975, the DS3
will come with a range of customization.
While the DS3 will be followed by the new
C3, both light-sized French hatches will be followed in 2011
by three all-new Citroens.
They will include the redesigned version
of Citroen’s C4 small five-door hatch, the more luxurious
DS4 crossover to rival Mini’s forthcoming Countryman
(previewed by the DS High Rider concept) and the
yet-to-appear DS5 flagship, which will be based on Citroen’s
latest C5 sedan.
