Nico Terol fastest on Day 1 of Moto2 testing at Valencia

Moto2 official pre-season testing kicked off today at the Valencia circuit with 30 riders taking to track with the Honda CBR engines now prepared by MEF (Fundación Moto Engineering) instead of Geo Technologies, and with the 215kg new weight limit rules for a combined weight between bike and rider.

The fastest rider of the day was Aspar’s Nicol Terol who stopped the clock with his Suter in 1’35″926 and just 0.025s ahead of Italtrans Racing Team’s Julian Simon, who suffered a harmless crash during one of the three sessions that the Moto2 teams have at their disposal as they are also sharing the track with the Moto3 teams.

This year’s title favourite and last year’s runner-up Pol Espargaro was third fastest rider of the day - but the best in the afternoon session - with his 1’36″106 lap and followed by other Kalex riders like Scott Redding - who will be one of the heavier riders that will benefit from the new weight rules - and Japanese rider Takaaki Nakagami who is in his second consecutive year with Italtrans Racing Team, with lap times from the fourth to the ninth position covered by a little more than three tenths of second.

Simone Corsi was sixth and little more than half a second from Terol with one of the four Speed Up machines that NGM Forward Racing will be fielding in Moto2 this year. Corsi managed only seven laps after a crash took him out the rest of the day. Reigning CEV Moto2 champion Jordi Torres took 7th, while Tito Rabat who was the fastest rider in session 1 ended up 8th, followed by Interwetten’s Thomas Luthi in 9th.

Toni Elias who will be riding this season for Blusens Avintia was 10th and Alex De Angelis 11th on the second NGM Forward bikes - while team mates Mattia Pasini was 16th and Jorge Lorenzo’s BFF Ricky Cardus was 20th.

The Valencia test also saw the debut of reigning Moto3 champion Sandro Cortese and the Dynavolt Intact GP who finished the day 24th and continuing his learning process of the KTM bike.

Idemitsu Honda Team Asia run by Tadayuki Okada is fielding Yuki Takahashi, while Johann Zarco suffered three separate crashes with his Suter branded Iodaracing Project, and new QMMF Racing Team rider Rafid Topan Sucipto, who replaced Anthony West at Valencia after the Australian received a ban for doping, also crashed twice.

Moto2 Valencia test - Day 1 results:

01- Nico Terol – MAPFRE Aspar Team Moto2 – 1’35.926
02- Julian Simon – Italtrans Racing Team + 0.025
03- Pol Espargaro – Tuenti HP 40 + 0.180
04- Scott Redding – Marc VDS Racing Team + 0.411
05- Takaaki Nakagami – Italtrans Racing Team + 0.517
06- Simone Corsi – NGM Mobile Racing + 0.518
07- Jordi Torres – MAPFRE Aspar Team Moto2 + 0.531
08- Tito Rabat – Tuenti HP 40 + 0.605
09- Thomas Luthi – Interwetten Paddock + 0.703
10- Toni Elias – Blusens Avintia + 0.926
from Twowheelsblog

Maverick Vinales dominates day one of Moto3 testing at Valencia

After reportedly being the the fastest rider during KTM’s private test at Almeria, Maverick Vinales arrived at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia for the first official Moto3 test of the 2013 season to top the time sheets in all three sessions that were held today.

Maverick Vinales is now riding a KTM for JHK T-shirt LaGlisse and he posted a best time of 1’40″715 - the only rider to break the 1,41 barrier - and he was also under Jonas Folger’s qualifying pole position lap in last season’s Valencia round.

Following Vinales was Luis Salom who suffered a small crash, Alex Rins and Zulfahmi Khairuddin, which put four official factory KTM’s in the top four spots with a fifth thanks to Aspar’s Jonas Folger, who is running a Kalex chassis.

Last year’s Italian revelation Romano Fenati was sixth riding a FTR Honda for San Carlo Team Italia, while Jakub Kornfeil took 7th ahead of Efren Vazquez, who is debuting the new Mahindra by Suter Racing. Arthur Sissis and Alex Marquez who are also riding KTM’s were 9th and 10th respectively while Maverick Vinales’ cousin Issac was 11th.

Sixteen year- old Ana Carrasco - the first female in Moto3 - and Vinales team mate made an impressive day 1 debut as she finished 12th and ahead of several more experienced Moto3 GP riders.

Moto3 Valencia test day 1 results:

01- Maverick Vinales – JHK T-Shirt LaGlisse 1’40.715
02- Luis Salom – Red Bull KTM Ajo Factory Team + 0.156
03- Alex Rins – Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 + 0.589
04- Zulfahmi Khairuddin – Red Bull KTM Ajo Factory Team + 1.073
05- Jonas Folger – MAPFRE Aspar Team Moto3 + 1.378
06- Romano Fenati – San Carlo Team Italia + 1.717
07- Jakub Kornfeil – Redox RW Racing GP + 1.745
08- Efren Vazquez – Mahindra Racing – Mahindra 1.872
09- Arthur Sissis – Red Bull KTM Ajo Factory Team + 1.975
10- Alex Marquez – Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 + 2.252

Photo source | Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo.facebook.com

from twowheelsblog

WAITING OUT WINTER

As a southern hemispherian, I have a strange relationship with winters. And I'm not talking about the kind we get down here. In fact, calling those ‘winter’ is akin to calling Nicki Minaj an ‘artist’. But just like any other westerners, we grew up with images of Frosty the Snowman, sleigh rides and ice skating on frozen lakes. What the picture books and stop motion Christmas specials conveniently avoid, though, is the nastier aspects of la saison d'hiver. Like the heating bills, shovelling snow, and worst of all - the fact that your bike stays put for what seems like an eternity (hello North Eastern America if you are reading this.) But is that really a negative, or is it a customiser's blessing in disguise?

WAITING OUT WINTER from Andrew David Watson on Vimeo.

Hold that thought while you watch the latest video from long-time Pipeburn contributor and good mate Andrew David Watson. It's a piece he's done with Cast & Salvage, a very cool-looking Philly bike shop. As Andrew puts it, ‘winter is in full force up here, and we still have another month or two to go, so hopefully everyone watching has a winter project to keep themselves busy with until it's riding time!’ Enjoy.

Building the New Carrozzeria Touring Disco Volante: Part 3

Classic Driver has been granted full access by Carrozzeria Touring to the stages in the construction of the first production Disco Volante, prior to its launch at the 2013 Geneva Show. Part 2 was all about finishing the body and its component parts. Now, it’s time to create the interior panelling and carefully paint the new car. 

Yes, it looks almost like the finished car, but the unpainted ‘body in white’ still needs further checking for alignment. Plus, the panel gaps need to be carefully regulated for both distance and consistency. This is a hand-made car, after all, by one of the world’s great coachbuilders. 

Meanwhile, the interior parts are cut to shape, then formed, and welded or bonded to the body/chassis unit. The glass is trial-fitted again and many of the main systems (lighting, dashboard, etc.) are temporarily assembled and their location is verified for alignment. 



The car is now ready to be painted. First, all panelwork is meticulously filled, smoothed and given a coat of primer. 

In parallel, all interior and exterior trim will have been finished, to be ready for painting, too – if appropriate. 


It’s now time for the Geneva Show car’s special 'Flame Red - Touring Superleggera' paint to be formulated and applied to the now primered bodyshell. For this colour, first gold is sprayed, then red, then clear lacquer. The gold layer gives the shade a lustrous 'flame' effect. 

Final painting is as much the ‘coachbuilder’s art’ as hand-beating aluminium and steel. The quality of Carrozzeria Touring’s paint shop is recognised the world over, and is often used by major motor manufacturers for low production run work. 


Painting completed, the next process is to reassemble the stripped-down components of the car, together with all the bespoke interior trim. 


The result will be the very first production Alfa Romeo 8C Disco Volante by Carrozzeria Touring – and we’ll show you what that looks like in the next instalment. 

For further information on the 2013 Carrozzeria Touring Disco Volante visitwww.touringsuperleggera.eu, or email info@touringsuperleggera.eu. 

Related Links The website of Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera www.touringsuperleggera.eu 'Building the New Carrozzeria Touring Disco Volante: Part 1' in the Classic Driver Magazine 'Building the New Carrozzeria Touring Disco Volante: Part 2' in the Classic Driver Magazine 'Five questions to Louis de Fabribeckers, Head of Design Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera' in the Classic Driver Magazine 'Geneva 2012: Disco Volante 2012 by Touring Superleggera' in the Classic Driver Magazine

Text: Steve Wakefield(ClassicDriver)
Photos: Carrozzeria Touring

The 1930 Henderson Custom Motorcycle

The 1930 Henderson Custom is one of the most stunning art deco motorcycles we’ve ever seen, it’s based on a 1930 K.J Henderson with an inline-4 air-cooled engine, that bodywork is all custom and it’s the sort of thing that would have impressed even Ettore Bugatti.

The Henderson Custom is owned by Frank Westfall from Syracuse, NY – he restored the bike himself and did a hell of a good job of it, his first outing on the bike was to the Rhinebeck Grand National Meet in 2010 where it, rather predictably, blew the minds of everyone who saw it.

The bike is said to be a bit of a handful to ride, probably not surprisingly, but it’s great to see that it’s getting some asphalt mileage rather than just living on threadbare carpet in a dusty museum.

As you can see by the lower-most photograph, the original paint scheme was two-tone, I kind of prefer the new monotone paint work done by Frank myself, it gives the bike a more regal appearance and allows the bodywork to speak for itself.

If you happen to know Frank Westfall ask him to email us, we want to be friends with him. And his Henderson.

Information provided by Knuckleduster.

via SILODROME

Sidecars & Snow: A Mountain Ride with Ural Motorcycles

Sidecars & Snow: A Mountain Ride with Ural Motorcycles from Gear Patrol on Vimeo.

Given the chance to ride motorcycles in the winter, a sane rider might politely decline, but what’s life without a few two three-wheeled thrills? On a recent invitation by Ural Motorcycles we did just that, responding “yes, please” (pronto) while simultaneously reaching for our bags, and multiple changes of underwear. Next stop, cold and soggy Seattle.

Wait, “not Russia”, you ask? Ural Motorcycles is steeped in Russian history, war history, but today Ural is actually based in the Pacific Northwest far from the frontlines of any European battlegrounds, but manufacturing continues to happen on the other side of the world in Siberia — territory inhabited by folks that know a thing or two about wretched weather.

Our agent of transportation for the ride: the eminently capable and appropriately named (at least for us) Gear-Up sidecar motorcycle. Our final destination: nowhere specific, but we did know we would be making our way through a speculative snow cloaked road in the Cascades. Here’s how things went.

We never truly expect too much in the way of location hosts, but we received the kind of brusque congeniality that makes our job truly worthwhile from none other than Mr. Cob (short for Cranky Old Bastard), stationed out of Seattle. We could not have asked for a more experienced Ural rider, as Mr. Cob took his own Gear-Up for a road trip of monumental proportions, hitting the much of the lower 48 states on a lengthy 2008 ride. If we could describe Mr. Cob, we’d say he was equal parts road-roughened traveler, motorcycling appassionato, and sage grizzly bear. Frankly, we wouldn’t have had it any other way. We were prepped to ride the Gear-Up by our host as he gave key pointers on the counterintuitive riding physics involved in managing a sidecar motorcycle without ending up as street pizza. The advice was welcomed.

Note that the Gear-Up looks like nothing else out there. It’s not a bike for sissies, but it’s also not a thrust of horsepower and torque to your backside that begs for you to hold on for dear life. Built like a Russian T-90 tank, the Gear-Up is designed to take punishment. With a reliable boxer engine that doles out a capable 40 horsepower, the Gear-Up isn’t fast, but gets you where you need to go with steadiness and no unwanted drama. The bike is also powdercoated, not painted, so it knows you’d rather thrash it through dirt, bramble and sand than take it to some Concours d’Elegance to show off while you eat cucumber sandwiches. But it also boasts modern bits like Brembo brakes and much-needed Sachs suspension components. For those, we would end up grateful, given the impending weather and road conditions. With the Gear-Up’s fat knobbies, snap on rain cover for the sidecar, and WWII style gas cans for those moments when your desire to ride outdoes your gas tank’s capacity, we headed off for the mountains.

Along the ride, our first encounter with other humans showed us what was fondly referred to as UDF or “Ural Delay Factor,” which basically amounts to perfect strangers making friendly inquiries about the Ural bikes and 5-10 minute delays in travel plans as a result of these great conversations. Men, women and especially kids are completely fascinated. According to Mr. Cob, this is all well and good when you first get your sidecar bike. You stop, chit-chat with the locals and generally enjoy the attention. “Just try dealing with that on a cross-country trip, and it’ll get old real quick,” he quipped.

Two protein bars and a bottle of water later, we hit the road again on the way to the mountains. The ride was cold and wet, but them’s the facts. Warm smiles were ear-to-ear as Mr. Cob and crew sped past cars and entranced drivers who throttled it just to see what we were all about. The Ural bikes were stable and comfortable throughout and we safely and surely covered a hundred miles or so of expressway, rain and wind. With all-wheel drive car and two Gear-Ups in caravan mode, we were certainly a sight to see. This author’s lack of any significant facial hair was quite possibly the only woe in regard to mug protection, made up for by Mr. Cob’s ZZ Top-esque set up.

Upon reaching the foot of the mountains, we observed the snow-capped trees and what seemed like calmer, slightly warmer weather, despite the whiteness. We stopped briefly for an absolutely necessary cigar break and also to quickly shift the bikes into two-wheel drive mode (rear motorcycle wheel and sidecar wheel connected to the motor via visible driveshaft) in order to do some three-wheeled frolicking in the snow. Until then, we’d only seen a few SUVs make it down the mountain road, so we had some idea of what we were in for. Less like trudging and more like parting the frozen waves, the bikes made supposed work seem like child’s play. Where cars feared to tread, we treaded.

Hopping back on the bikes, we made our way up the mountain road with relative ease. Dodging massive potholes in the pavement and plowing our way through 6 to 8 inches of heavy, wet snow, the Urals proved pretty damned capable. Moreover, it was an unequivocal hoot to see the front knobbies drive through otherwise unmanageable conditions. Mr. COB led the way and though we briefly stopped again to take in a breathtaking view of the misty tree-covered mountains, the bikes beckoned to us for more riding.

The fun had pushed us hard to ignore the cold and wet conditions and we were further warmed by the fact that every mile logged equated to a solid recommendation of not just the Gear-Up but of the experience it provided and the camaraderie it fostered, something we’d say is unique in our age of the not oft favored blindingly fast paces. The day turned to night as we headed back to Ural’s quaint shop and we hung up our gear to dry as we anticipated one of the calmer of post-ride slumbers. Gear Up. Gear down. Zzzz.

from gearpatrol

Ferrari GTS/4 'Daytona' Spider

Aimed squarely at the American market (and ironically made famous in the 1980s thanks to the black convertible in ‘Miami Vice’ – which was a fake), Italian sportscars don’t come much more glamorous than the so-called Daytona Spider. 

The Ferrari 365 GTS/4 (to give the car its proper name) was the open-topped version of the celebrated ‘Daytona’ coupé – or 365 GTB/4, if we’re going to be formal. The Spider was revealed in all its drop-top glory at the 1969 Frankfurt motor show. Only 122 were built (and just 7 were right-hand drive). Sales weren’t helped by the Spider’s emergence at the start of the 1970s, when the oil crisis loomed large in everyone’s thoughts; but for those who could afford it, the Daytona Spider offered real Italian performance – and style.


However, while the awesome abilities of the front-mounted 352bhp 4.4-litre four-cam V12 engine (not to mention its wonderful song at speed) were never called into question, the cosmetic appearance of the Daytona Spider wasn’t quite so universally popular. Roof up, the convertible had certainly lost some of the cleanly sculptured purity of the coupé. And dare we suggest that Pininfarina’s solution to stowing the foldable roof wasn’t as neat as might have been hoped?


Nevertheless, for ‘real’ drivers, there was little to beat the joy of open-topped motoring in this quintessentially Italian styling statement. As with the coupé version, the heart and soul of the car is its engine, but the Daytona is also known for its superlative handling, its balance, and the need for a firm hand on the controls. Heavy steering, along with a clutch and brakes that likewise require a bit of muscle from the driver when the going gets twisty, add to the physicality of the driving experience; but that’s what makes the car so engaging.

This is no spineless boulevard cruiser; or rather it’s not just a boulevard cruiser. The Daytona – whether coupé or convertible – is a real, macho, high-performance Italian sports car and it demands a bit of energy from the driving seat to get the best from the mechanicals. But put real verve into your wheelmanship and the fabulous front-engined Ferrari of 40 years ago will repay you handsomely.

Related Links The car in the photographs is for sale at Joe Macari Performance Cars in London SW18. See the original advert or the rest of Joe Macari's inventory in the Classic Driver Marketplace Also in the Marketplace, you can find more 365 'Daytona' coupés and Spiders

Text: Charis Whitcombe(ClassicDriver)
Photos: Joe Macari

Scion FR-S is the official race vehicle for Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race

The Scion FR-S has been confirmed as the official vehicle for the 2013 Toyota Pro/Celebrity race scheduled on April 20.

The FR-S will replace the Scion tC for this year's race, representing the first RWD vehicle used in the last 27 years. The tC started its service in 2005 and before that a FWD Toyota Celica was used. The 2013 race is scheduled for April 20 and will feature a slightly modified 2013 FR-S.

The rear-wheel drive coupe has been fitted with an array of parts and equipment from Toyota Racing Development, including beefier brakes, new coil overs and springs, 18-inch wheels, larger air intake, stainless steel exhaust and the usual safety gear. Thanks to these changes, the Scion FR-S outputs 210 hp (156.6 kW) at 7,000 rpm.

Further technical details are available in the following press release.

Source: Scion

via worldcarfans

RM Auctions Weiner Microcar Museum

The RM Auctions Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum sale will be staged February 15-16, 2013 in Madison, Georgia. The two-day sale will see the entire collection offered without reserve, including approximately 200 microcars, and an assortment of more than 300 lots of collectibles.

The “world’s largest collection of the world’s smallest cars”, the Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum is highlighted by a roster of microcar examples from the late-1940s through the early-1960s. Some of the more amazing little cars that will be crossing the auction block include the only Messerschmitt KR 200 “Sport” known to exist, an Australian Lightburn Zeta Sports, and a Hot Wheels-inspired BMW Isetta that has been modified with a 700 horsepower Chevrolet crate motor. Meanwhile, the wide array of collectibles offered consists of period neon signage, rare kiddie rides, literature, and 1950s vending machines and candy dispensers.

Rob Myers, Chairman and Founder of RM Auctions, said, “As a microcar collection, the Bruce Weiner Museum is unequivocally the finest of its kind worldwide. With many items having been closely guarded in private ownership, and the vast majority coming to public auction for the first time, the sale is truly unprecedented.”

(RM Auctions Bruce Weiner Microcar Collection – View Digital Catalog)

The Bruce Weiner Collection auction will be held in situ at the Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum, February 15–16, 2013 in Madison, Georgia. For more information, visit www.handlewithfun.com or call +1 519 352 4575.

RM Auctions Bruce Weiner Microcar Collection 2013 – Auction Preview

1958 Berkeley Sports – Estimate $15,000 – $25,000. One of the more well-known and handsome microcars, the Berkeley Sports SE328 used a 2-cylinder Excelsior motor that could propel the British featherweight to 62 miles per hour. Berkeleys tend to be more affordable than many of the other microcars, and this sporty red one is a very nice example.

1957 Jurisch Motoplan Prototype – Estimate $50,000 – $75,000. Considered the most attractive of a series of three cars, this prototype was the vision of talented engineer and motorcycle racer Carl Jurisch. The German saw the benefits of a vehicle that could combine the positive aspects of car and motorcycle. The prototype utilized Messerschmitt and Heinkel components, and was used by Jurisch for a short time before he sent it to the United States in an attempt to market the car. It sat unloved in Florida until the 1970s, when a microcar collector purchased it and was able to track the car’s mysterious and fascinating history.

1959 Messerschmitt KR 200 Sport – Estimate $50,000 – $60,000. After realizing that the days of the microcar were numbered, Fritz Fend decided to market a more economical, stripped-down version of the Kabineroller called the Sport. Considered the only genuine factory KR 200 Sport in existence, this car led a well-known life in the UK as 837 CLJ.

1964 Lightburn Zeta Sports – Estimate $35,000 – $45,000. The spirit of the Lightburn Zeta goes back to the introduction of the British Frisky Sprint at the 1958 Earls Court Motor Show. Australian Harold Lightburn was so smitten with the car that, when Frisky faced financial difficulties a short time later, he hired the designer/engineer team of Gordon Bedson and Keith Peckmore to develop the car for production in Adelaide. One of less than 50 examples ever built, this Lightburn Zeta Sports looks as cool as its name sounds.

1956 BMW Isetta ‘Bubble Window’ Cabrio – Estimate $45,000 – $50,000. BMW built 160,000 little Isettas between 1956 and 1962, and while a fabric sunroof was standard on all Isettas, only a handful were built as full cabriolets. Featuring the rare “tropical vents”, this is one of around 50 Isetta Cabriolets. The Cabriolets are reportedly the most highly prized Isettas, and this restored example features the appealing combination of pale green paint and bright green plaid interior.

1958 Goggomobil Dart – Estimate $35,000 to $45,000. The Goggomobil Dart did not come out of the Glas factory in Germany but the workshops of Bill Buckle in Punchbowl, Australia. Buckle secured a license from the German firm to build Goggomobil cars in Australia, and used the pressed steel platform chassis underneath a body of his own design. The doorless Dart was very well received, and this black example is a very correct specimen of this most sporty of microcars.

1953 Champion 400H – Estimate $40,000 – $50,000. After Ludwigshafen-based Champion dealer Hennhöfer took over production of the 400, they began to use Heinkel’s 400 cc twin-cylinder two-stroke, hence the “H”. This very nice red example is one of less than 2,000 400H’s built, and was restored by the museum.

1961 Autobianchi Bianchina Special Cabriolet – Estimate $35,000 – $45,000. Introduced at the 1960 Geneva Motor Show, the Special Convertible version of the popular Bianchina proved to be one of the more fashionable small cars of its day. Fitted with the Fiat 500 Sport motor, this beautiful white Bianchina boasts a top speed of 65 miles per hour, and is arguably the most charming of all Autobianchis.

1959 BMW Isetta “Whatta Drag” – Estimate $75,000 – $100,000. Inspired by a wild Hot Wheels toy design, Bruce Weiner had a fully-functioning, life-sized version commissioned. A 1959 Isetta body was laid over a new steel frame and M3 suspension, while out back lies a 502 ci supercharged Chevrolet crate motor. With over 700 horsepower, it certainly isn’t the most usable (or safe) car out there, but it is an amazing showpiece and, due to the impressive attention to detail in getting it to look exactly like the toy that inspired it, an amazing piece of craftsmanship.

[Source: RM Auctions; photos: Darin Schnabel]

via sportscardigest

Legend Boucles de Spa : quelques infos

La RTBF sur le pont

Partenaire privilégié et fidèle des Boucles, la RTBF consacrera comme d’habitude une large couverture à l'événement. Voici les différents rendez-vous que fixe la chaîne publique avant, pendant et après le week-end du 16 février.

-Vendredi 15 février : Emission AutoMobile à 23h sur la Deux : sujet avant-coureur/ambiance/shake down.

-Dimanche 17 février : Emission AutoMobile à 17h45 sur la Une à 17h45 - round up Boucles 10' (rediffusion le mercredi 19 février sur la Deux à 21h45)

-Dimanche 17 février : sujet dans le WE Sportif - la Une à 18h30

-Vendredi 22 février : Emission AutoM obile sur la Deux à 23h - sujet maga revenez-y Boucles. (rediffusions le dimanche 24 février - la Une à 17h45 & le mercredi 27 février - la Deux à 21h45)

-Un sujet en direct de Bilstain est également projeté, selon l’actualité, dans le JT de 13h du samedi 16.

Bilstain en direct sur Télévesdre et Motors TV

Le premier passage dans la RT show de Bilstain, samedi à 12h43, sera retransmis en direct grâce aux moyens techniques mis en œuvre par Télévesdre. Des images reprises en direct également par plusieurs autres télévisions régionales (RTC Liège, TV Luxembourg, Télé Sambre,…) mais aussi par la chaîne internationale Motors TV.

28 marques, 63 modèles, 12 nationalités

Le plateau est toujours aussi diversifié avec cette fois non moins de vingt-huit marques représentant soixante-trois modèles différents. Parmi les nouveautés 2013, on pointe les Lancia 037 bien sûr mais aussi une Renault 5 Turbo et une Simca Aronde nettement plus âgée. On note par ailleurs le retour des Opel Manta 400, Fiat 131 Abarth, Triumph TR7 et TR8 et Lancia Stratos. Pour la première fois depuis le début des Legend, si l’Escort reste de justesse le modèle le plus représenté avec 37 exemplaires, c’est Porsche qui est la marque N°1 avec 47 autos dont 35 911. Opel suit en 3e position avec 29 voitures. Côté nationalités, on dénombre septante équipages étrangers (soit 26% du plateau et une légère amélioration par rapport à l’an dernier) issus de onze pays différents avec une majorité de Français (35), mais aussi des Néérlandais (17), Britanniques, Espagnol, Allemands, Suisses, Luxembourgeois, Italien, Finlandais, Marocain et un pilote (Félix-Marie Brasseur) roulant sous licence sénégalaise !

Seize anciens vainqueurs

En comptant les pilotes et leurs équipiers, dix-sept anciens vainqueurs de l’épreuve (un nouveau record) seront au départ de cette 55e édition. Côté pilotes, on retrouvera Bruno Thiry (2010), Marc Duez (1983 et 2007), Patrick Snijers (1981, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1995, 2008, 2009), Bernard Munster (1999), Marc Timmers (2006), Chavan (1968 et 1970), Renaud Verreydt (1992, 1995 et 2000), Stouf (2011) et « Vande », le dernier lauréat en date.

Au niveau des copilotes, le plus ancien vainqueur sera Chavan (1968) suivi de Christian Delferrier (1973), Georges Biar (1992), Jean-Marc Fortin (1996 et 1998), Jean-François Elst (2000), Pascal Lopès (2002), Joris Erard (2011) et Eric Marnette (2012).

Ambiance sous le chapiteau

Informé des chronos des RT en « live », Thomas Bastin – dont vous pouvez également lire les excellents textes concernant le karting et le sport automobile régional dans Turbomagazine – assurera les commentaires et l’ambiance sous le chapiteau où l’on vous invite à venir vous réchauffer et surtout à venir acclamer les lauréats (et les autres) et faire la fête après l’arrivée.

Web Radio Legend

Pour la première fois depuis le début des Legend Boucles, une webradio permettra de suivre l’épreuve via internet, à partir du site www.racspa.be. Grâce aux étudiants de la Haute Ecole de la Province de Liège, section information et communication, mais aussi à Citroën Belgique, il sera possible comme sur WRC.com, de vivre la course à travers les commentaires, chronos, interviews des élèves et de leur « professeur » de « stages » (à prononcer à l’anglaise), Christian Lahaye. Une application mobile permettra aussi d’être tenu au courant de l’évolution de la course sur les téléphones portables.

Séance dédicaces sous le chapiteau le vendredi à 17h45

Comme chaque année, le public aura l’occasion d’approcher les pilotes vedettes lors d’une séance de dédicaces programmée à 17h45 sous le chapiteau planté au cœur de Spa. Des posters avec les portraits des 24 pilotes et copilotes invités mais aussi du vice-champion du monde Mikko Hirvonen seront distribués sur place.

Demandez le programme, 10 euros pour 64 pages

Comme chaque année, le programme de désormais 64 pages avec les cartes détaillées des RT, les engagés avec les numéros, l’horaire définitif, la présentation des pilotes mais aussi deux posters (Ford Fiesta WRC de Thierry Neuville et Citroën DS3 WRC de Mikko Hirvonen), l’interview de Mikko Hirvonen, le plan du parc d’assistance, etc, sera vendu au prix de 10 euros, uniquement le samedi matin à partir de 7h sous le chapiteau mais aussi à différents points stratégiques comme le pont du chemin de fer à l’entrée de Spa (en venant de Theux), la pompe Texaco à la sortie Spa de l’autoroute, plus différents points à proximité des accès des RT. Pour connaître le lieu et l’heure exacte de la première RT (pour info les premiers quitteront Spa &agr ave; 8h30), vous pourrez aussi acheter le programme au podium au cœur de Stavelot dès 8h du matin.

Arzéno-Jamoul engagés en dernière minute

Un équipage de pointe supplémentaire figure désormais sur la liste des engagés. Le Français Mathieu Arzéno et notre compatriote Renaud Jamoul feront en effet cause commune sur une Ford Escort RS Mk2. (avec COM-photo J. Letihon)

via sport.turbomagazine

Penton Six-Day 125 1972

 

Foto: motocross.transworld.net

from Racing Café