Archive for March, 2015
BTCC Media Day 2015: Time To Rock n Roll
The stunning 2015 BTCC grid. Image Credit: BTCC.net
After months of silence, the sound of 2 litre touring cars made a thunderous return. The BTCC Media Day is a chance for the public and press to get their first glimpse of the cars they will be following for the season ahead. In the backdrop of the legendary Donington Park circuit, the time had come for the teams to showcase the results of their winter’s labour. This was my first time attending the Media Day, and I was not disappointed.
The first thing I noticed was the sheer volume of support from the fans; the queue to get into the circuit at 12:30 reminded me of days gone by when I would wait in line for hours to see my favourite band up close and personal. If there was no other proof that would be enough, the BTCC is a shining jewel in the crown of not only British but world motorsport. As the gates opened a rapturous combination of applause and cheers echoed down the line, this was going to be a good day.
It has felt like a lifetime since enjoying the full BTCC experience of the senses; the sight of touring cars charging around the track, the smell of the exhaust mixed with the fragrant aroma of the burger vans and the explosive sound of the 2 litre engines all coming together in such beautiful harmony.
It was released in the close season that Robb Holland would not compete in the 2015 season due to other commitments, and it did not take long for the seat to be filled. So, it came as no surprise that one of the biggest news stories to come from Media Day was the announcement that the Audi S3 would be driven by Nicolas Hamilton, brother of current F1 champion Lewis Hamilton in a rumoured £1 million sponsorship deal with Monster Energy. This is a historic moment for the championship, for it is the first time that a disabled driver will enter.
Image Credit: BTCC.net
“I’m doing this to inspire people to exceed expectations” (Nicolas Hamilton on his 2015 drive)
Sadly, we will not get to see Hamilton in action until Croft, as he is only competing for half the season and will not be eligible for championship points. The ex-Rotek Audi has been transformed into a ferocious beast, and we can hope that it will give Hamilton some strong results in the latter half of the year.
The new liveries for the 2015 are a stunning selection, which will make for a majestic sight for both the trackside and television audiences. The Pirtek livery for Andrew Jordan looks even better on an MG than it did on the Honda, while for his team mate his car is almost completely covered in sponsorship while still retaining a sense of style and good looks. The works Hondas have definitely surprised me this year; the potent mix of slight styling tweaks and the new Civic Type R have created a mouth-watering machine that looks ultra-competitive as ever.
The myserious jet black BMR VW kept everyone guessing. Image Credit: BTCC.net
Team BMR kept everyone guessing throughout the day with their cars all still running the jet black livery with no hint of sponsors. With Plato still running the #99 car, will he bring with him his ‘Tesco Clubcard Fuel Save KX Every Little Helps Asda price’ look from years gone by? A sly placement on the front of the cars revealed a question mark (literally), which could either refer to the question of what the liveries will be or that the cars are now sponsored by ‘What Car?’. Rob Austin Racing has introduced an intriguing new look for the Exocet cars this year; the flames from last year have been replaced by what looks like smears of marmalade mixed with mustard. Eventually I will make up my mind as to whether I like this change or not.
Of all the cars on the grid however, my prize for my favourite livery goes to the Power Maxed team with their Chevrolet Cruzes. The two car team including the Coffee Drops car for Dave Newsham and the #RacingForHeroes car for rookie Josh Cook did nothing but steal my attention all day with their smouldering good looks. Since acquiring the ex-Stockton car, Power Maxed are definitely on their way up for 2015!
Power Maxxed has probably my favourite livery on the grid! Image Credit: BTCC.net
Considering their immense media effort, the Support Our Paras team were somewhat of a disappointment on the day; the cars did not make it out on track due to not having correct parts in time. After all the time they have had to get the car ready, it seemed slightly strange that they still were not able to take part in the test session. Other teams have managed to get cars ready and out in much less time, so perhaps the Infiniti squad need to focus a bit more on the motor and less on the media message. What I will say however is the choice of sponsors have somewhat amused me when it comes to Infiniti. Perhaps Nico Rosberg and Support Our Paras have more in common than I first thought…
Interesting sponsorship deal there, Infiniti! Image Credit: BTCC.net
As it has for many years, ego plays such a significant part within the BTCC and although the media day is surprisingly about the media, there is also the small matter of the first official test session for the field. The testing times may not count for anything in particular considering teams are often still fine tuning their cars, but setting your personal precedent for the upcoming year is still important. That is exactly what the BMR boys decided to do; Plato and Turkington ended the day at the top of the time sheets, separated by a tiny 0.006 seconds. The new look Triple Eight MGs made their intentions clear with a strong 5th and 6th as the official timing ended.
Some of the surprises of the session came in the form of Moffat who planted his brand new Mercedes 3rd fastest and Hunter Abbott who managed an impressive 7th. Personally, one of the biggest shocks came from Martin Depper, a seasoned backmarker from 2014 who shot up to 9th only 0.679 off the pace. Having spent a great deal of last year in strong criticism of his abilities, perhaps Depper has seen the light and will become a contender for the 2015 season. Power Maxed showed nothing but improvement from 2014, with both cars inside the top half of the field. Josh Cook in the RacingForHeroes car even managed fastest rookie in 15th. Considering of course that this was Cook’s first time in a BTCC car competitively, to only be 1 second off the pace in a brand new car is something deeply impressive.
The Moffatt Mercedes surprised everyone with its outright pace. Image Credit: BTCC.net
The stunning new Honda team may be playing a clever game with their competition based on their times in the test. At their first test at Brands Hatch, they claimed that the new car was already faster than the Tourer from last year. However, both Neal and Shedden were outside the top ten at Donington Park. Initially many might think that the new car is off the pace, but I sense that some mind games may be apparent. They appear to have set slow times, but I will put my money on the table now and say that come Brands Hatch they will catch everyone off guard and dominate from the front.
As Media Day drew to a close, the unspoken question around the paddock was clear; whose season would 2015 turn out to be? There are so many teams that are hungry for victory, from the Hondas, to the MGs and Team BMR. But on top of that there are the young guns and the newbies who are confident of success; I would not discount the abilities of the Moffat-mobile. Furthermore, Power Maxed has already seen a massive improvement and with Cook and Newsham on board, I foresee podiums and even some race wins in the season ahead.
The results of the test session at Media Day
We cannot forget the people’s champions on the grid in Rob Austin and Dan Welch. Rob Austin has been in a constant upward state of improvement since joining the BTCC and his time may finally come this year. Dan Welch and the Proton suffered an embarrassment of a 2014 season, but Welch has said that the new engine will bring them consistent top 10s across the year. As a fan of all things Welch and Proton, I do hope this will ring true.
The time for conjecture and discussion will soon be over. Now is the time for action. The 2015 British Touring Car Championship kicks off this weekend at Brands Hatch.
Once more the engines will roar. Once more the flag will drop on the greatest touring car championship on the planet.
It’s time to bring the noise. Let’s rock n roll!
Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter for all things BTCC across the opening weekend @lewisglynn69
Keep Driving People!
Peace and Love!
How To Eat While Driving
Note bad choice of food – and not just from a health perspective!
This is an article that you would never find written in French. Or, if you did, it would consist of only one word: Don’t. There is a reason why French cars such as Citroens don’t come with cup holders. According to French thinking, food is to be savoured and given one’s full attention rather than wolfed down on the go while driving. Well, there’s a lot to say for that point of view. However, if you’ve got a busy schedule, you could very easily find yourself eating on the run behind the wheel. In fact, if you’re doing a long drive or if you do a lot of running around, eating behind the wheel could actually make you a safer driver. I know that when the old blood sugar is running a bit low, I tend to feel cranky and irritable, get clumsy and not think straight (no, I do not have Type 1 diabetes). So having a bit of a nibble while doing the Mum’s Taxi thing is a real sanity saver, if not a life saver.
There is an art to eating while driving. You want to be able to do it safely so you main focus of attention goes on the road. You also want to be able to do it cleanly, without getting bits of sandwich filling all over the car. Ideally, you also want to do it healthily. So how?
Clever snack planning is the key. You need to look out for something that doesn’t involve too much unwrapping or peeling, and something that can be stored on your lap or within easy reach so you can put it down between bites or whenever you need to use both hands (bench seats are great for this!). You also want to avoid things that drip, spill, squish or come to bits. Lastly, in at least a token gesture towards the French attitude towards food, it’s best to have something that’s not so special that it really deserves your full attention.
So what snacks are suitable for munching behind the wheel? Here’s a small selection:
- Shelled nuts in a packet (my go-to favourite driving snack)
- Dried fruit
- Fresh fruit that can be just bitten into and isn’t too drippy. Apples are good.
- Chocolate bar
- Beef jerky
- Fresh vegetables such as cherry tomatoes or carrot sticks
- Crackers and biscuits
- Unwrapped sweets such as marshmallows (if you have to!)
Things to avoid include:
- Meat pies – hot gravy spilling onto fingers and laps make for a major distraction
- Very full sandwiches with lots of filling
- Sushi (although if it’s well made so it doesn’t fall to bits and you have the carton handy on your lap you can get away with it – and I think sushi merits your full attention)
- Anything that requires a fork, spoon or chopsticks
- Burgers
- Anything you’re allergic to
- Individually wrapped sweets
The technique for eating in the car while driving is as follows:
Step 1: Put self in driver’s seat, put on seat belt and place snack on lap or bench seat, or arrange it in a paper cup in the cupholder. Open packets or pick plastic stickers off as needed.
Step 2: Take first mouthful and start ignition. Put snack back. Back out drive, etc.
Step 3: During quiet moment of driving (low traffic, straight road, waiting at the lights), grab another bite and put snack down on lap.
Step 4: Put hands back on wheel and/or gear lever and continue driving while chewing mouthful thoroughly. If you have to do anything more complicated than drive in a straight line, keep both hands on the wheel and off the snack (carrot sticks may be left in the mouth like a healthy cigar equivalent during hairy manoeuvres).
Step 5: Repeat Steps 3 and 4 as needed.
Don’t forget to remove apple cores, apricot pips and empty packets from the car at the end of your drive!
Safe and happy driving,
Megan
New Releases: New Cars for 2015 and Beyond
Jaguar, that quintessential and iconic English brand, unveiled the new XF in a somewhat unusual way in London. Jaguar is proud and rightfully so of its aluminuim architecture and engineering. It’s quoting 80 kilograms lighter than its nearest competitor in its segment and reduced CO2 emissions along with a mooted 70 miles per gallon (diesel engine).
The way that Jaguar showed off its new car certainly is an eyebrow raiser; we watch humans walk along thin wires and marvel at how they stay on. Jag went further and ran the XF across two wires, crossing the Thames at Canary Wharf.
There’s been some tweaking of the design as well; to the eye it looks the same length but there’s a difference, with wheelbase extended by by 51 mm whilst the car is actually 7 mm shorter and 3 mm lower. Headlights have been trimmed and the taillights now have the same look as the popular F-Type. Transmissions will be eithe a six speed manual or eight speed auto, with powerplants ranging from a 132 kW diesel to 280 kW supercharged V6, with drag now reduced to 0.26cD.
The F-Type, available in convertible and hardtop, has donated its blood to Jaguar’s first SUV, the F-Pace.
The concept car, the C-X17, gave a clear indication of its heritage when unveiled; sales of the XF are scheduled for spring 2015 in the UK and, no doubt, sometime in early 2016, as will the F-Pace.
Mitsubishi’s Outlander has been popular since its launch in the early 2000’s; there’s been some teasing of the new model which indicates a freshening of the front whilst the rear has been tickled a little. Interior updates have not yet been seen.
Coming soon from VW owned, Czech car maker, Skoda, is a refreshed Octavia Scout complete with grunty diesels (110 kW and six speed manual) or 135 kW (and 132 kW petrol) with six speed dual clutch autos. It’s a 4×4 configuration, with styling for the exterior reflecting its off road capability and showcasing a 32 mm ride height increase.
Citroen, famed for its sometimes quirky designs, says Australia will see the C4 based Cactus in early 2016; it will bring with it a bold design and innovative features including Airbump technology, magic wash and a roof mounted airbag. Unique Airbump® technology provides style with substance to absorb minor impacts, this flexible skin protects the vehicle from minor scrapes and bumps. Consisting of a multitude of air capsules under a flexible skin TPU (Thermo Plastic Urethane), the soft treatment absorbs small bumps and provides better resistance to scratches. They require no special maintenance, and directly involved in the reduction of operating costs of the vehicle.
Airbump technology will also be joined by an innovative ‘Magic Wash’ system whereby windscreen-washer jets are fitted in the tips of the wipers to provide a bead of liquid rather than a spray.
The system results in no loss of visibility during washing, while removing overspray and reducing consumption of washer fluid by half.
Australia gets a guernsey with the designed and engineered here Ranger slated for release in the second half of 2015. There’s an American influence to the front with a more assertive, masculine design. A trapezoidal grille is flanked by new projector headlights 
and there’s plenty to like under the skin. Electrically assisted steering, uprated diesels with Stop/Start with potential fuel savings of 22%, Lane Keeping Aid, Adaptive Cruise Control, updated interior and handling packages spell big positives for the blue oval.
Also due soon is Kia’s revamped Optima, a new Range Rover Sport, Peugeot’s updated 3008 SUV and Mazda’s baby SUV, the CX-3, is available now.
The Toughest Place To Get Your Licence
So you thought that the practical driving test that you had for getting your driver’s licence was hard. I know I did. Didn’t help that the cop who put me through my paces when I was a timid wee lass of 17 was built like a brick outhouse (fine for dealing with the local drunk and disorderlies; terrifying for a nervous teenager). However, the most difficult thing I got asked to do was to back around a corner – something that I’d never heard of or seen done so I initially suspected some sort of trap. Also, the small town where I sat my licence was out that back of nowhere, and there were no hills for hill starts, no uncontrolled intersections and, courtesy of the local council planners, no parallel parking in the main street. I practically got my licence out of a cereal packet.
It’s a different story on the other side of the world in Finland. I don’t think that I’d manage to get my driver’s licence even now that mumble-mumble years have gone by and my teenage son is preparing to sit his practical test for the second time (failed the first time for not having parallel parking down pat). Most of us don’t know an awful lot about Finland except that it’s up near the Arctic, borders Sweden, is the home of Nokia and produces rally drivers with names that look like they ought to belong to Tolkien characters. Good rally drivers. And given what you need to do before you get your licence, this isn’t surprising.
The theory test you get in Finland is pretty much like the one you’d get in most parts of the world – a set of questions with illustrations showing different scenarios, to which you have to apply your knowledge of the road code (which you probably spent the previous night swotting). After that, the practical driving begins. No being taught by Mum and Dad for the Finns: it’s driving school for two years unless Mum and Dad have an instructors’ permit and the family car (what’s the betting that it’s going to be a Saab or Volvo from across the border?) is fitted up with an extra pair of brake pedals for the front passenger. And you can’t get that provisional licence equivalent until you’re 18. Which means you get your full licence at 20, and it’s valid for another 50 years.
Driving school isn’t just a case of endless three-point turns and parallel parks in a safe environment. Safeish environment, yes – including computer simulations for situations that the instructors can’t make happen just like that… like night driving.
I have to say that the driving course does look quite fun. There’s quite a good video clip about it.
I certainly wish that I had gone through this course, with its controlled skids on icy roads, moose avoidance tests and car maintenance lessons. This sort of thing, especially the skidding bit, has two advantages. If you’re a Nervous Nelly like I used to be, being taught how to handle a skid (and what sort of action will get you into a skid) will make you more confident in your ability and you’ll thus be less likely to panic and freeze if things do get hairy. If you are at the opposite end of the spectrum and a bit of a hoon, then this will get all the skidding out of your system. Unless you go on to be a rally driver.
We might not get the super icy roads over here in Australia or even in New Zealand, or at least not as icy as that driving course looks. But we do get rain and we do get gravel. So learning this sort of thing certainly doesn’t go amiss. Rural kids get a bit of an advantage here, as they have the opportunity of finding a large field that isn’t full of stock, crops or trees, then tearing around like crazy doing doughnuts, fishtails and slides. Rural kids also know all too well that a large animal is likely to appear around the corner at random and either learn to take care around corners just in case or else how to dodge things. However, they can go to pieces when confronted with multilane roundabouts, right turns in heavy traffic and other delights of city driving. There needs to be some sort of exchange programme going on – shouldn’t be that hard…
Other countries have other interesting requirements for getting handed that piece of paper that allows you to drive. In Switzerland, you have to have done a first aid course. In Brazil, you have to have done a self-defence course. In Russia, you have to have a certificate saying that you’re sane (guess a number of former Tsars and other leaders of this country wouldn’t have passed). In Saudi Arabia, you have to have male genitalia, a Y chromosome and probably a beard. Yes, folks, in the place where a lot of the world’s petrol comes from, I wouldn’t have had a chance of getting a licence on the grounds of gender.
Safe and happy driving,
Megan
Level 2, 9 Help Street