Motoring NewsIssue 2 January 2014

VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE DUNE

CONCEPT BRINGS SUNSHINE TO

DETROIT

BMW GROUP SEEKS 160 NEW

APPRENTICES TO JOIN UK

MANUFACTURING AND DEALER

OPERATIONS IN 2014

BMW Group is looking for around 160

young people with a passion for the

motor industry to take up apprentice-

ships available through its company

and dealership schemes in 2014. The

new recruits will join over 400 existing

apprentices currently undergoing

training across the company’s UK oper-

ations, and within its BMW and MINI

dealer network, with some able to rise

beyond NVQ to degree qualifications.

In its MINI UK production network, the

business is looking for 49 new appren-

tices to take up places in August as the

plants ramp up production of the next

model generation. In addition, BMW

and MINI dealerships are looking to re-

cruit around 110 young people across

the UK.

Skills and Enterprise Minister Matthew

Hancock said: “It is always encouraging

In the midst of a ferociously cold Michi-

gan winter, the new Volkswagen Beetle

Dune concept is all set to bring a hint of

summer sunshine when it makes its

debut at the North American Interna-

tional Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit

next week.

The Beetle Dune is based on the latest

version of the iconic Volkswagen, and

adds a cool, rugged off-road look. The

body has been raised by 50 mm com-

pared with a standard Beetle, while 19-

inch wheels with large tyres lend an all-

terrain look. A rear-mounted ski-rack is

reminiscent of those fitted to classic

Beetles, and makes a perfect accessory

for the season. In the summer, it could

hold a sandboard – the ideal accessory

for surfing the sand dunes from which

the Beetle Dune takes its name.

The latest Beetle Dune concept also re-

visits an idea from January 2000, when

Volkswagen showed the New Beetle

Dune concept in Los Angeles. But while

that vehicle was far from a production

possibility, the Beetle Dune is very

much based on the current production

model, using the same 210 PS tur-

bocharged petrol engine and six-speed

DSG gearbox, providing power to the

front wheels.

Further information on and images of

the Beetle Dune concept will be avail-

able a"er the car makes its debut at

the NAIAS on 13 January.

2 Motoring News

LONDON MOTOR

MUSEUM TO

DISPLAY RARE AND

UNIQUE CARS AT

AUTOSPORT

INTERNATIONAL

2014

Home to one of the largest collections

of both classic and custom automo-

biles in Europe, the London Motor Mu-

seum will proudly be displaying some

of its rarest machinery at the world’s

greatest four wheel indoor extravagan-

za this weekend.

London Motor Museum founder Elo,

will take the Gumpert Apollo, GT500

and the RAAW street rod to showcase

the rare and unique cars from the col-

lection of over 200 all available to view

at the museum in Hayes, London seven

days a week.

The Gumpert Apollo has been part of

the London Motor Museum’s collection

for over two years and is one of the

fastest supercars in the world. Also on

display will be the GT500, a Ford Mus-

tang Shelby and one of the world’s

most powerful production V8s with a

top speed of 202mph. The RAAW street

rod is a 1952 Chevrolet speedster street

rod and has been uniquely customised

by the London Motor Museum. Inspired

by World War 2 fighter jets London Mo-

tor Museum has chopped, channelled

and decked the original two door

sedan and created a boat tail by weld-

ing the bonnet to the rear.

Autosport International is the world’s

greatest four wheel indoor extravagan-

za held at the NEC, Birmingham featur-

ing every level of motor racing from

karting to Formula 1. Now in it’s 24th

year the show caters for both industry

professionals and motorsport fans with

exhibitors from the entire automotive

world on display.

London Motor Museum owner and

founder Elo commented: “Autosport In-

ternational is a fantastic exhibition and

we’re delighted to be taking three

unique cars from our 200-strong collec-

tion, to show a different side to motor-

sport and car culture. Each of the cars

represents something different from

the London Motor Museum and all

have our unique stamp on them –

come and see for yourselves!”

London Motor Museum will feature on

stand 9220 on the 11th and 12th Jan-

uary.

Autosport International tickets are

available to purchase at https://

www.theticketfactory.com/ai/online/

About London Motor Group:

London Motor Group is parent compa-

ny to the London Supercar Workshop

and London Motor Museum, and spe-

cialises in unique and exceptional cus-

tom car conversions.

Owner and founder, Elo, is a former in-

ternational fashion model, and the

work of the London Motor Group is a

reflection of his unique personality and

character.

London Supercar Workshop is the cre-

ative epicentre of the operation, with

cars from all over the world, o"en be-

longing to international music, sports

and movie stars undergoing customi-

sation in this unique and specialist en-

vironment dedicated to Elo and his

team’s automotive passion and artistic

flare.

London Motor Museum is the only cus-

tom car museum in Europe, housing a

unique collection of more than 200 pri-

to see large employers, such as BMW,

committing to employing more ap-

prentices. This scheme is a great op-

portunity for a young person with an

interest in the automotive sector to be-

gin a rewarding career. I want choosing

university or an apprenticeship to be

the new norm for young people and

the range of positions available

demonstrate this is becoming a

reality.”

Apprenticeships in the MINI UK pro-

duction network

MINI Plant Oxford has 31 places avail-

able in a variety of areas ranging from

finance and logistics to engineering

and IT. Technical apprentices will at-

tend Plant Oxford’s new bespoke train-

ing school, featuring state-of-the-art

classrooms, dedicated computer study

areas and a fully-equipped workshop.

With 10 apprenticeships available at

the Plant Swindon pressings plant and

a further eight at the Hams Hall engine

plant near Birmingham, apprentice-

ships last between three and four years

and cover a wide range of skills from

human resources and business to elec-

trical maintenance and engineering.

The training leads to an NVQ level three

qualification and some young people

will have the opportunity to progress

right through to degree level in the

course of their career at MINI.

Frank Bachmann, Managing Director,

MINI Plant Oxford and Swindon, said:

“Investment in young people is a key

part of our development strategy for

the plants and it is vital that we attract

the very best young talent to ensure

the business has the right skills for the

future. We are delighted to be able to

offer young people the chance to join

our modern apprenticeship scheme.”

Young people can also apply for an ap-

prenticeship through a Facebook page

w h i c h c a n b e f o u n d a t

www.facebook.com/BmwCareersUK.

The closing date for applications is 31

January 2014.

Apprenticeships in the BMW and MINI

UK dealer network

For the 110 apprentices to be recruited

to MINI and BMW dealerships, there are

programmes in various disciplines

ranging from Service Technician, Parts

Advisor, Motorcycle Technician and

Body Panel/Paint.

All BMW and MINI dealer apprentices

complete the three-year Advanced

Modern Apprenticeship at Level 3, the

Parts Advisor programme is two years,

and receive VRQ/VCQ qualifications

from the Institute of the Motor

Industry. Training is carried out at the

BMW Group Academy UK, a purpose-

built training centre opened in 2006

and located near Reading, the

Bodyshop programmes are carried out

at our training facility in Milton Keynes.

In general the minimum entry criteria

require between three and four GSCEs

at grade C or above or equivalent.

Commenting on the 2014 intake, Tim

Abbott, Managing Director of BMW

Group UK, said: "Bringing new talent

into our dealerships is vital to ensure

we provide the best possible service for

our customers and so I am delighted

that we will welcome over 100 new ap-

prentices to our award- winning

scheme in the UK."

3Motoring News

Gumpert Apollo

RAAW Hotrod

vately owned American and European

classic cars ranging from the 1930s

through to the present day and show-

casing the latest creations from the Su-

percar Workshop.

With much more than just classic cars,

the London Motor Museum boasts a

range of unique vehicles and exhibi-

tions including The Movie Car Section,

The Bat-Cave (home to both the 1966

and 1989 Batmobile), Muscle Car Alley,

The Supercar Paddock (home to some

of the fastest cars in the world) and

much more.

4 Motoring News

ART AND DESIGN COME

TOGETHER FOR INFINITI

'Artistic brilliance' is the theme that

unites new London-based cultural ini-

tiatives by Infiniti.

As work progresses on Infiniti's first

London design studio, the luxury per-

formance brand is also looking to the

arts - by supporting two major London

shows this month where great design

comes as standard.

Infiniti is a sponsor of the London Art

Fair, being held at the Islington Busi-

ness Design Centre from January 15–19

(with special VIP and media viewings

taking place on Tuesday January 14).

London Art Fair covers Modern British

and contemporary art and includes a

broad spectrum of work from artist col-

lectives and younger emerging gal-

leries through to the large established

galleries of Mayfair.

Infiniti will be on hand to chauffeur all

VIP guests to and from the show

throughout the week, utilising its latest

models such as the all-new Q50 saloon,

the larger Q70 and the design-led

sports utility vehicle the QX70, previ-

ously known as the FX.

Special VIP tickets can be won for the

London Art Fair by simply following the

@InfinitiGB Twitter account and

retweeting the specific competition

tweet – closing date Midnight on Thurs-

day 9th January.

Infiniti is also looking to the performing

arts by once again sponsoring Cirque

du Soleil. The innovative troupe's lat-

est trapeze, juggling and dance show,

Quidam, follows a young girl's escape

into the world of imagination. There is

no better place for her thoughts to get

lost in than at the Royal Albert Hall.

The show continues from now until

February 16.

The Infiniti and Cirque du Soleil part-

nership is a natural fit. Each embodies

the spirit of performance, passion, pre-

cision and provocation in order to turn

movement into an art form.

The global partnership between Infiniti

and Cirque du Soleil started in 2010

and has presented big top and arena

shows around the world, delighting au-

diences with up to 20 simultaneous

shows on tour at a time.

The new Infiniti Design London (IDL)

studio is currently in construction.

More details of the centre will be re-

l e a s e d c l o s e r t o t h e t i m e o f

completion, expected Spring 2014.

5Motoring News

ALL-NEW FORD MUSTANG TO MAKE ITS

SILVER SCREEN DEBUT IN HIGHLY

ANTICIPATED MOVIE NEED FOR SPEED

BENTLEY UNVEILS

LIMITED EDITION

BIRKIN MULSANNEFord Mustang has been a star of the sil-

ver screen and the small screen for

nearly 50 years, with more than 3,200

appearances in movies and television

shows. Now, the all-new Mustang is

getting off to a quick start with its

movie debut in Need for Speed on

March 14.

Need for Speed star Aaron Paul will

drive the custom 2014 Mustang hero

car in the highly anticipated movie

based on the long-running Electronic

Arts video game series, and will take

the wheel of the next-generation Mus-

tang in its first on-screen appearance

as well.

“On-screen or on the road, the sight

and sound of Mustang has been inspir-

ing fans for nearly five decades,” said

Jim Farley, Ford executive vice presi-

dent, global marketing, sales and ser-

vice and Lincoln. “The feeling of opti-

mism and being in control that Mus-

tang’s world-class power and perfor-

mance provide is a perfect match for

Aaron Paul’s character in Need for

Speed.”

When the original Mustang debuted in

April 1964, it was still an unknown

quantity, but the producers of Goldfin-

ger almost immediately cast a Wimble-

don white 1965 convertible in the

movie. Five decades later, Mustang is

an automotive and cultural icon, and

Need for Speed director Scott Waugh

wasted no time getting the new Mus-

tang into his film.

“I chose Mustang because it is a car

that really represents American

culture,” said Waugh. “It just repre-

sents modern muscle, and it’s iconic,

having been in some of the greatest car

chase movies of all time.”

Chronicling the filmography of Mus-

tang is such an enormous job that it

took more than 100 contributors to

build out the MustangIMDB.com site

created by Stefan Thorarensen,

founder and board member of The Ice-

landic Mustang Club. With more than

3,200 entries, the list grows almost dai-

ly.

Reflecting the importance of movies to

the Mustang story, Hollywood was se-

lected as one of six venues for the glob-

al reveal of the all-new pony car on

Dec. 5, 2013. Mustang was driven out

onto a pad of wet cement in the fore-

court of the historic TCL Chinese The-

atre. Like nearly 200 human stars, in-

cluding several actors who helped

make Mustang a star of the silver

screen, the new pony had its prints and

signature logo preserved for posterity

in the cement.

Fans of the video game franchise al-

ready have access to virtual drives of

the new Mustang, which became avail-

able as a free in-game download in EA’s

Need for Speed™ Rivals in mid-Decem-

ber. Players in the game can also cus-

tomize their Mustangs with a choice of

five popular designs created using the

online Mustang Customizer, including

one inspired by RTR founder and dri"

champion Vaughn Gittin Jr.

2015 Ford Mustang

The all-new Mustang is the most ad-

vanced version yet of the iconic pony

car. The sleek new design of Mustang

Fastback and Convertible is backed up

by world-class performance from a

range of available engines including a

new turbocharged EcoBoost® 2.3-litre

and 5.0-litre V8 with more than 426 PS.

In addition to state-of-the-art connec-

tivity systems, Mustang features avail-

able advanced driver-assist systems,

track apps, launch control and more.

Bentley Motors today unveils a new

Limited Edition model exclusively for

European customers, the Birkin Mul-

sanne.

Taking inspiration from Sir Henry

‘Tiger’ Tim Birkin – the legendary Bent-

ley Boy who travelled and raced exten-

sively around Europe in the 1920s and

1930s – this new model features nu-

merous unique styling details and rep-

resents the pinnacle of British luxury

motoring in its most discerning form.

The Limited Edition of just 22 cars is

available in three colour specifications:

a fresh and contemporary Ghost White,

Damson for a more vibrant touch, and

a sophisticated contrast of Fountain

Blue and Dark Sapphire, offering a

modern interpretation of the classic

two-tone Bentley paint design.

Numbered door sill plaques, a unique

21" wheel design inspired by those on

the original Mulsanne concept car, and

a striking 3D ‘Flying B’ logo stitched

into the vehicle headrests and inlaid

into the wood of the front fascia and

rear picnic tables, identify the Birkin

models. In addition, all three specifica-

tions feature a stunning tailored lug-

gage set – each one hand-cra"ed, indi-

vidually numbered and matched with

the interior of each car.

Items have been selected for the Birkin

Limited Edition from the Mulsanne’s

extensive options list for the well-trav-

elled connoisseur and the Mulliner

Driving Specification delivers an en-

6 Motoring News

TOYOTA

REVEALS ITS

“ULTIMATE”

SPORTS COUPE

CONCEPT

A daring new Toyota coupe concept

breaks cover at the Detroit motor show

today. The new FT-1 concept is the re-

sult of Toyota’s Calty design studio’s

mission to create the ultimate sports

car.

The California-based team, which cele-

brates its 40th anniversary this year,

has produced a car that is strikingly

modern, yet which makes reference to

Toyota’s rich sports car history, going

back to the 2000GT of the mid-1960s.

The exterior captures the look of race-

car with a curvilinear form, pro-

nounced front wings and sharply de-

fined contrasts that express powerful

performance. The FT-1’s optimum

aerodynamic qualities are communi-

cated by its large air intakes, exhaust

ports and retractable rear wing.

The front engine/rear-wheel drive con-

figuration allows the cockpit to set fur-

ther towards the rear of the car, within

the wheelbase, helping improve weight

distribution and create classic sports

car proportions. The wraparound

windscreen and side glass arrange-

ment are a clear nod to the design of

the original 2000GT.

The ergonomics of the cabin capitalise

on the car’s low centre of gravity, help-

ing the driver derive the maximum re-

ward from the driving experience. A

delta-shaped display zone helps make

the driver feel at the heart of the

action, fully connected to the car. This

quality is reinforced by the Formula 1-

style steering wheel and a colour head-

up display that projects key informa-

tion just above the wheel. The design-

ers have pushed the A-pillars as far

back as possible, to increase visibility

when cornering.

Traditionally Toyota’s design decisions

have been driven by consensus among

a large group of people; as part of a

company movement to give Toyota

products more energy and passion, the

process has been streamlined. This ap-

gaging motoring experience thanks to

a unique ‘Sport’ setting on the Drive

Dynamics Control system. An intricate

diamond quilting pattern to the seats

and door panels, complemented by an

indented leather headlining and ‘knurl-

ing’ details to the interior metalwork,

create a contemporary and tactile fin-

ish to the cabin.

For those travelling in the rear of the

Birkin Mulsanne’s spacious cabin, the

Entertainment Specification offers a

luxurious and comfortable space to

work or relax while on the move. Each

car features exquisitely-packaged twin

8" LCD screens in the rear of the seat

headrests, a DVD player, a Wi-Fi

hotspot, the Naim for Bentley premium

audio system and iPads integrated into

the hand-cra"ed solid wood picnic ta-

bles.

A tribute to Tim Birkin

The muse for this Limited Edition Mul-

sanne, Sir Henry Ralph Stanley ‘Tim’

Birkin, was celebrated as both racing

legend and unassuming style icon in

his time, epitomising the idea of the

British gentleman racer.

The Birkin Mulsanne specifications are

born from the idea of how Birkin would

commission a Bentley today. With its

effortless performance and luxurious

hand-cra"ed cabin, the Bentley Mul-

sanne embodies the essence of Birkin’s

beliefs as motoring connoisseur. Now,

with its unique styling details and

exquisite specification, the Limited Edi-

tion Birkin Mulsanne is an automotive

homage to one of Bentley’s most influ-

ential visionaries.

Birkin’s first Bentley was bought simply

out of a love of fine motoring, but over

time he became increasingly involved

with Bentley’s efforts on the road and

race track, culminating with his key

role in the development of the ‘Blower’

Bentley in 1928. Birkin saw that to re-

tain its competitive racing edge, the

company needed to increase the pow-

er of the 130 bhp Bentley 4 ½ litre, and

so pushed to fit the car with a super-

charger, which increased power to an

impressive 242 bhp.

Birkin convinced company owner

Woolf Barnato and financial-backer

Dorothy Paget to support a production

run of 50 cars in order to qualify for Le

Mans. It was for this car – and his fear-

less style of driving it – that Birkin is

perhaps best known.

7Motoring News

AUDI AS

TRENDSETTER

AT LE MANS

proach has been fundamental to the

development of the FT-1, a concept

that captures Toyota’s aim of creating

cars that connect more deeply with

customers and generate a more satisfy-

ing ownership experience.

For 15 years, Audi has been demon-

strating ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’ in

the world’s toughest endurance race.

With the latest generation of the R18

e-tron quattro hybrid race car Audi

continues its string of technical inno-

vations at the Le Mans 24 Hours.

In 152 days from now, on June 14, the

82nd running of the French endurance

8 Motoring News

classic will start at 3 p.m. Interest in the

event is already exceptionally high. For

the first time, Audi and Porsche, the

race’s two most successful brands, will

be pitted against each other. Toyota,

a"er suffering two defeats against

Audi, is aiming to break the four rings’

string of victory at Le Mans. Plus, for

the first time, new regulations with a

main focus on energy efficiency will be

in effect – for Audi, the inventor of the

TDI, this will provide an opportunity to

again prove its great technical exper-

tise not only on the road but on the

race track.

Be it with the engine, hybrid drive,

lightweight design, or by setting stan-

dards in active and passive safety:

Audi’s Le Mans prototypes are front

runners in terms of sporting perfor-

mance as well as technology. “Le Mans

is a unique test laboratory for our tech-

nologies,” says Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hacken-

berg, who is responsible for Technical

Development on the Board of Manage-

ment of AUDI AG. “The comprehensive

range of new technical developments

of our current Le Mans race car in-

cludes the headlights with laser light.

They illuminate the track for a distance

of up to 800 meters. In a planned

derivation for production vehicles, they

achieve up to 500 meters, which is

twice the range of LED headlights. With

that, Audi is making an important con-

tribution to safety on the track and in

road traffic.”

Advanced engine technologies for

maximum efficiency

In 2001, an innovative V8 engine pow-

ered the Audi R8. TFSI gasoline direct

injection metered the fuel in a way that

reduced the consumption of the V8 tur-

bo power-plant, improved responsive-

ness and, due to the engine’s ability to

immediately start again, shortened the

stopping times in the pits while making

more power output available. Just

shortly following the first Le Mans suc-

cess, Audi’s customers were able to or-

der the first production models featur-

ing gasoline direct injection. This fuel

induction principle soon evolved into

the standard in large-volume produc-

tion series. Today, TFSI engines con-

tribute to the reduction of CO2 emis-

sions in millions of cars.

Five years a"er this debut, Audi

showed another pioneering achieve-

ment. In the 2006 season, the Audi R10

TDI powered by a direct-injection

diesel engine won the endurance clas-

sic at La Sarthe right on its first run.

Winning Le Mans with a diesel-pow-

ered race car had been considered

wishful thinking until then – today, it is

regular reality. To date, Audi has won

the race seven times on TDI power,

with learning effects continually being

fed into the design of crankcases, pis-

tons, fuel injectors and other assem-

blies in production development.

e-tron quattro hybrid drive takes Le

Mans victory

Audi was the first Le Mans participant

to win with a hybrid drive system and

therefore again made motorsport his-

tory. 2012 saw the first victory of the

Audi R18 e-tron quattro, a sports proto-

type with a rear axle being powered by

a TDI internal combustion engine and a

front axle driven by electric power. A

fully electronic control strategy was the

only connection between the two drive

systems. In parallel, Audi also expand-

ed its product range by hybrid models.

The next generation is now ready for

launch. In 2014, Audi starts delivering

the A3 Sportback e-tron, a latest-gener-

ation plug-in hybrid. In racing, the new

2014-specification R18 e-tron quattro

is pointing the way to the future. The

Audi engineers have fundamentally re-

designed it, as the race car has to man-

age both, running on a limited amount

of energy and achieving the best lap

times.

Highly sophisticated detailed solu-

tions for higher safety and lower

weight

In addition to the pioneering power-

train solutions, Audi has been setting

standards in other areas as well. Per-

fect lightweight design combined with

maximum passive safety is manifested

in the safety cell of the sports cars. The

monocoque made of carbon fibre rein-

forced plastics (CFRP) in 2013 weighed

only half as much as the one used in

Audi’s first LMP race car in 1999 – de-

spite greater restrictions specified by

the regulations. This material has long

made its way into production vehicles,

for instance in body components of the

R8, the R8 Spyder and the RS 3. Active

safety has been significantly improved

by Audi with ever new lighting tech-

nologies. The LED daytime running

light in the Audi R10 TDI (2006–2008)

was followed by full LED headlights in

the R18 TDI (2011), matrix LED technol-

ogy in the R18 e-tron quattro (2012–

2013) and the innovative laser light in

the next R18 e-tron quattro (from

2014). The digital rear-view mirror with

a camera projecting the action at the

rear on an innovative AMOLED display

in the cockpit, which has been used

since the 2012 season, reflects another

future trend.

“The general public and the motor-

sport audience have come to expect

Audi to play this part of a trendsetter,”

says Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolf-

gang Ullrich. “We are proud to be at the

very front with these innovations in our

motorsport commitment, while bene-

fiting from Audi Sport being a part of

the Technical Development of AUDI AG

on a daily basis. We aim to continue to

prove the Audi-typical ‘Vorsprung

durch Technik’ in tough racing condi-

tions with our Le Mans prototypes in

the future – even though in 2014 we’re

no doubt facing the greatest challenge

ever at Le Mans.”

9Motoring News

NINE DECADES OF BENTLEY TO

RACE TOGETHER AT DONINGTON

PARK

10 Motoring News

THE LEGENDARY ‘MONTE’:

VOLKSWAGEN STARTS THE

WRC WITH A CLASSIC

From the hunter to the hunted: Volk-

swagen’s mission to defend its titles in

the FIA World Rally Championship

(WRC) opens with a genuine motor-

sport classic at the Rally Monte Carlo,

as the “Monte” is the oldest rally in the

world. From 14 to 19 January, the

French pairing of Sébastien Ogier and

Julien Ingrassia will line up for the first

time as defending World Champions in

both the Driver and Co-Driver competi-

tions. Together with team-mates Jari-

Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN),

they are the team to beat in the Manu-

facturers’ Championship, in which they

can also count on able assistance from

Andreas Mikkelsen/Mikko Markkula (N/

FIN). The first of the 13 rallies on the

2014 calendar is immediately one of

the hardest nuts to crack in the WRC.

Virtually unpredictable conditions and

15 testing special stages on asphalt, ice

and snow in the French Maritime Alps,

not to mention night stages and tem-

peratures well below freezing – the Ral-

ly Monte Carlo is one of the greatest

challenges in motorsport.

“We line up at the Rally Monte Carlo

with start number 1 on one of our Polo

R WRCs for the first time,” said Volk-

swagen Motorsport Director Jost Capi-

to. “This honour is reserved for the

World Champion, and is something we

are very proud of. However, this does

not mean that we will be arrogant or

complacent this season – particularly

not at the iconic ‘Monte’. We will ap-

proach it with the greatest respect,

maximum concentration, and absolute

commitment. It is easier to win a World

Championship title than it is to defend

it. And that is our goal. The 2014

‘Monte’ will give us the first indication

of where we stand compared to the

new-look opposition. We are looking

forward to it.”

Victory at the “Monte” – a question of

prestige

Formula One Grand Prix in Monaco, the

Le Mans 24 Hours, the Indianapolis

500, the Rally Dakar and the Rally

Monte Carlo – they are the five most

prestigious motorsport competitions in

the world. This year’s “Monte”, as the

mother of all WRC rallies is affection-

ately known by fans, features four for-

mer winners. Sébastien Ogier/Julien In-

grassia, now driving for Volkswagen,

won in 2009. They were followed in

2010 by Mikko Hirvonen/Jarmo Lehti-

nen, who will race for Ford in 2014, and

fellow Ford pairing Bryan Bouffier/

Xavier Panseri who triumphed in 2011.

However, all three of these duos are

missing the icing on the cake – their

victories all came in the IRC (Interconti-

nental Rally Challenge) in a car com-

plying with the Super 2000 regulations.

A “Monte” win in the World Rally

Championship? Only old hand François

Delecour from France – also in action

for Ford in 2014 – can boast one of

those.

New rules, new challenge

A new sporting format and a new chal-

lenger – the 2014 World Rally Champi-

onship season has a number of new

features for fans and competitors alike.

The previous qualifying procedure at

gravel rallies is omitted. Instead, the

starting order will now be based on the

c u r r e n t W o r l d C h a m p i o n s h i p

standings. Detailed amendments have

also been made to the rules allowing

competitors to return under Rally2 reg-

ulations.

Over the course of the season, the

itineraries for the rounds of the World

Rally Championship will be standard-

ised. In the future, the rallies will all be-

gin with the start ceremony on Thurs-

day and end with Sunday’s final stage

at about midday. The final special

stage will always form the so-called

Power Stage, in which bonus points are

up for grabs in the Drivers’ and Co-

Drivers’ Championship for the first

three cars. However, the “Monte” is an

exception to the rule when it comes to

the itinerary: it ends with the final spe-

cial stage – “Sospel – Breil-sur-Roya” –

in the dark on Saturday evening.

Home race for Sébastien Ogier – Gap

hosts “Monte” start

Home banker? Well, there can certainly

be no doubting that this is a home race

for one man. The Rally Monte Carlo be-

gins in the birthplace of the reigning

World Rally Champion – in Gap. The

town, with a population of 40,000,

hosts the opening two days of the

Rally, before the WRC circus heads to

Monaco. For Sébastien Ogier, this

means both an extra incentive and a

little extra pressure. Scores of friends

and family are expected in his home

town to support the Volkswagen works

driver at the start of the “Monte”.

Ice spies and tyre tactics – skill and

flair are the order of the day in the

Alps

Rain in the Service Park, dry conditions

at the start of the stage, snow in the

middle and ice at the end – the stan-

dard madness at the Rally Monte Carlo.

Selecting the right tyres for a loop con-

sisting of three special stages is a real

gamble. Winter tyres with and without

spikes, so" and super-so" slicks are

available to the drivers, who can call

on the detailed information they re-

ceive from their trusted ice spies.

Nowhere in the World Rally Champi-

onship is it more important for the

weather crew to be perfectly coordi-

On Saturday, June 7th 2014, Donington

Park will reverberate to the unmistak-

able sound of Bentley engines span-

ning nine decades, as Bentleys of all

ages come together in a unique one-

marque race.

This spectacular sight of the iconic

British marque at the legendary British

circuit celebrates the 90th anniversary

of Bentley’s first win at Le Mans and is

being staged by the Bentley Drivers

Club (BDC) at the AMOC Donington

race meeting.

Already a tradition at the BDC annual

race meeting at Silverstone, models

spanning the decades will be out on

track together for a 20-minute scratch

race at Donington Park, a favourite cir-

cuit of racing legends and spectators

alike. The sight and sound of Bentleys

just a few months old hurtling towards

Redgate or weaving their way round

the Craner Curvers side by side with

Bentleys old enough to be their grand-

parents - or even great-grandparents -

is sure to be one race that fans will nev-

er forget.

Showcasing the racing heritage and di-

versity of the marque, this is a fabulous

opportunity to witness some simulta-

neous open- and closed-wheel racing,

with speed differentials equivalent to

that at Le Mans between the proto-

types and GT touring cars, as 3-litres,

3/4½s, 3/8’s, 4½s, Derbys, Mark VI Spe-

cials, the explosive 24-litre Bentley

Napier and the Worthington brothers’

Mulsanne Turbo and technicolour Con-

tinental GT demonstrate their paces.

Duncan Wiltshire, Race Co-Ordinator

for AMOC Racing, said “AMOC Racing

are delighted that the Bentley Drivers

Club will be racing at the AMOC Don-

ington race meeting. Given the warm

relations between the Aston Martin

Owners Club and the Bentley Drivers

Club over many decades, the Bentley

race is a most fitting and welcome ad-

dition to our programme, which in-

cludes races for the AMOC Intermarque

Championship, 50s Sports Cars and

‘Equipe’ GTs.”

Bentley Drivers Club Competitions

Captain Sebastian Welch added, “The

BDC is a comparatively small club, and

organising a one-marque race at an-

other race meeting is a significant

achievement. We are thrilled to be cel-

ebrating the 90th anniversary of the

first Bentley Le Mans win in this way

with an extra race, and would like to

thank AMOC Racing for inviting us to

stage the race at AMOC Donington. We

are sure it will prove hugely enjoyable

for competitors and spectators.”

11Motoring News

VOLVO CARS AT

THE 2014 DETROIT

MOTOR SHOW:

INSIDE OUT: VOLVO

CARS REVEALS

VERSATILE

INTERIOR FOR THE

CONCEPT XC

COUPÉnated and communicate clearly than at

the legendary “Monte”.

1 5 s p e c i a l s t a g e s , o v e r 3 8 0

kilometres, two Service Parks

The Rally Monte Carlo traditionally

winds its way through the French Mar-

itime Alps and thus through the hinter-

land of the principality. The mother of

all the stages on the 2014 rally promis-

es to be the special stage between Vit-

rolles and Faye. At 49.03 kilometres, it

is one of the longest on the WRC calen-

dar. The final stage, from Sospel to

Breil-sur-Roya, will also play a crucial

role. Its 16.55 kilometres form the Pow-

er Stage. The fastest three cars here

will earn bonus points towards the

championship. The anomaly: starting

at just a"er nine o’clock in the evening,

the Power Stage at the “Monte” will

take place in the dark. The Service

Parks are another anomaly: the cars

will be maintained in Gap on the open-

ing two days of the Rally, with the har-

bour in Monaco – a stone’s throw from

the famous Rascasse corner from the

Formula One Grand Prix – providing

the backdrop to the second Service

Park on the final two days.

Quotes ahead of the Rally Monte Carlo

Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R

WRC #1

“Our main goal is obviously to defend

the title. It is never easy to win a title,

but successfully defending it is even

more difficult. I am certain that the

other teams will put us under pressure.

However, I am confident about the new

season on the back of such a successful

2013. We have made small improve-

ments to the Polo R WRC. For example,

it is now even more reliable. A new

manufacturer is joining the series in

2014, in the form of Hyundai, and this

will make the competition even fiercer.

That is what I am really looking for-

ward to in Monte Carlo. I am also

pleased that the ‘Monte’ will start from

my home town of Gap this year. That is

an extra incentive for me to be the

fastest come the end of the rally.”

Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R

WRC #2

“For me, the start of the new season is

a completely different situation to one

year ago. Back then, both the team and

the car were new to us. We are now fa-

miliar with everything. However, the

first rally of the season in Monte Carlo

is always a challenge. I will try to finish

in the top five at the ‘Monte’. The Rally

Monte Carlo is an extremely unusual

rally. Tyres will play a major role, as the

Service Park is not located in the

mountains. As such, you have to specu-

late on what the weather will be like up

there. The ‘Monte’ features 30-kilome-

tre special stages, on which you are

driving on dry asphalt for 20 kilometres

and ice for the remaining ten. 20 kilo-

metres of asphalt on spikes is just as

awkward as 10 kilometres of ice on

slicks. Choosing the right tyre is the

biggest challenge. Do you opt for snow

tyres with spikes, snow tyres without

spikes, super-so" slicks or so" slicks?

You have to find the perfect compro-

mise between these four options.”

Andreas Mikkelsen, Volkswagen Polo

R WRC #9

“The main goal is to claim the odd

podium finish in 2014. This is only my

second ‘Monte’. I lined up there in 2011

and crashed out on the first special

stage. This means the ‘Monte’ is a com-

pletely new experience for me. As such,

I will not put all my eggs in one basket,

but will take a rather cautious ap-

proach. My goal is to complete the rally

and finish in the points. I did not race

at the ‘Monte’ last year, so my expecta-

tions there are not as high as the rallies

I drove in 2013. I would be happy to get

through the Rally Monte Carlo without

any mistakes this year.”

Did you know ...

... the Polo R WRC completed the first

special stage in its World Champi-

onship history at the Rally Monte

Carlo? Sébastien Ogier caused quite a

shock in winning last year’s opening

stage, “Le Moulinon”.

…the Rally Monte Carlo was not origi-

nally planned as a motorsport event?

Back at the start of the 20th century,

the residents of Monaco were looking

to attract tourists to the Côte d’Azur in

the winter months. It was for this rea-

son that Prince Albert I gave the green

light for the inaugural “Monte” in 1911.

… the first “Monte” in 1911 started

from Paris? 23 cars started out from the

French capital, crossing the finish line

in Monte Carlo 1,020 kilometres later.

… the first winner of the “Monte” was

Henri Rougier (F)? The cyclist, pilot and

racing driver from Marseille crossed the

line first in his Turcat-Méry 24CV.

… the first Rally Monte Carlo was not

just about speed? Besides the time

spent driving, a jury was also on hand

to judge the elegance and comfort of

the cars, as well as their condition

when they reached the finish.

The numbers for the Rally Monte Carlo:

“15”, “17”, “18”

Chassis number 15, 17 and 18 will be

used at the Rally Monte Carlo for the

Polo R WRCs driven by Andreas

Mikkelsen, Sébastien Ogier and Jari-

Matti Latvala. This is already the sixth

rally for chassis number 15, with which

Andreas Mikkelsen made his Volkswa-

gen debut in the World Rally Champi-

onship in Portugal last season. The

youngster then used the same chassis

in Greece, Finland, France and Great

Britain. Chassis number 17 was run

solely on asphalt by Sébastien Ogier in

2013 – in Germany and France. Jari-

Matti Latvala will take his place in

chassis number 18 for the second time,

having previously used it at the Rally

Germany.

FIA World Rally Championship (WRC),

2013 final standings

Drivers’ Championship

1. Sébastien Ogier, 290 points; 2. Thier-

ry Neuville, 176; 3. Jari-Matti Latvala,

162; 4. Mikko Hirvonen, 126; 5. Daniel

Sordo, 123; 6. Mads Østberg, 102; 7.

Evgeny Novikov, 69;

8. Sébastien Loeb, 68; 9. Martin Prokop,

63; 10. Andreas Mikkelsen, 50; 11. Nass-

er Al-Attiyah, 30; 12. Elfyn Evans, 20; 13.

Robert Kubica, 18; 14. Bryan Bouffier,

10; 15. Juho Hänninen, 8; 16. Chris

Atkinson, 8; 17. Jari Ketomaa, 8; 18.

H a yd e n Pa d d o n , 8 ; 1 9 . M i c h a l

Kosciuszko, 7; 20. Ken Block, 6; 21.

Khalid Al Qassimi, 5; 22. Sepp Wiegand,

4; 23. Per-Gunnar Andersson, 4; 24.

Benito Guerra, 4; 25. Henning Solberg,

4; 26. Nathan Quinn, 4; 27. Olivier Burri,

2; 28. Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari, 2; 29.

Yazeed Al Rajhi, 1; 30. Esapekka Lappi,

1; 31. Romain Dumas, 1; 32. Mark Hig-

gins, 1.

Manufacturers’ Championship

1. Volkswagen Motorsport, 425; 2. Cit-

roën Total Abu Dhabi World Rally

Team, 280;

3. Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team,

190; 4. Qatar World Rally Team, 184; 5.

Jipocar Czech National Team, 65; 6.

Abu Dhabi Citroën Total World Rally

Team, 63;

7. Volkswagen Motorsport II, 50; 8. Lo-

tos Team WRC, 20.

The 2014 North American International

Auto Show in Detroit hosts the world

premiere of Volvo Car Group’s (Volvo

Cars) new Concept XC Coupé – the sec-

ond of three concept cars that show-

case the company’s future design di-

rection. The interior of the car is dis-

played on the stand in the form of a 1:1

scale hanging sculpture, making all the

details and functionality of the versa-

tile interior visible to all visitors to the

stand.

In common with the highly-acclaimed

and award-winning Volvo Concept

Coupé, Senior Vice President of Design

at Volvo Cars Thomas Ingenlath and his

team use the Concept XC Coupé to

demonstrate the design possibilities of

Volvo Cars’ new Scalable Product Ar-

chitecture (SPA) that will underpin all

cars from Volvo Cars in the future,

starting with the all-new Volvo XC90

that premieres later this year.

And while the earlier Concept Coupé

showcased proportions of a sleek

coupé, the Volvo Concept XC Coupé

has a strong connection to both an ac-

tive outdoor lifestyle and Volvo Cars’

aim to offer customers a world-class

safety and support package.

“Enjoying a car with great power and

capabilities, at the same time as you

are safe and protected, gives a great

feeling of joy and freedom,” said

Thomas Ingenlath, Senior Vice Presi-

dent Design at Volvo Cars.

The Concept XC Coupé is also present-

ed alongside a separate interior sculp-

ture.

“We wanted to create a piece of art

which also highlighted the conceptual

and innovative stowage area. And to be

able to show it to all stand attendees,

rather than just those getting close to

the car, we created the sculpture in

satin white and dark glass that covers

the stowage area and extreme skiing

12 Motoring News

Published by Media Syrup Ltd

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automotivepress.co.uk for

advertising and sponsorship

equipment. A true piece of art placed in

a world of functional design,” said

Robin Page, Director Interior Design at

Volvo Cars.

The interior sculpture emphasizes Vol-

vo Cars’ philosophy of “Designed

Around You” by focusing on how the

stowage area is cleverly designed to ac-

commodate customers’ outdoor activi-

ty equipment. The sculpture shows

how the designers have designed a wet

and dry compartment for equipment in

a modern and aesthetically clean way.

“The colour scheme and modern de-

sign language illustrates our connec-

tion and influence from modern design

products for outdoor activities as being

produced by companies such as POC,

based in Sweden,” said Thomas Ingen-

lath. “The part I am most proud of is

creating something so unique and

fresh in an industry that mostly works

to quiet traditional ways of showing

new products. To me this is a true piece

of art.”