After SS3: Ogier leads a tightly-bunched top-three / Après ES3 : Ogier, premier leader

With the first stages of the 2013 Wales Rally GB completed, a leading trio comprising Sébastien Ogier (VW/Michelin), Thierry Neuville (Ford/Michelin) and Jari-Matti Latvala (VW/Michelin) has pulled slightly clear at the top of the order. Given the extremely slippery conditions, it’s been a surprisingly drama-free evening. 

Après trois spéciales disputées dans la nuit galloise et 24,98 kilomètres chronométrés, Sébastien Ogier (VW/Michelin) est leader devant Thierry Neuville (Ford, +3s2) et Jari-Matti Latvala (VW, +5s2). Robert Kubica (Citroën) est septième à 35s4 du leader.

The last stage of this evening’s short competitive loop (three stages totalling 25km) was only a 30-minute drive from the service park but it was a very different world. Leaving the busy industrial region north of Chester behind us, we were almost immediately into the forested hills of North Wales.

This is classic Wales Rally GB territory. It’s cold (5°C), windy, wet and muddy… and dark; all the ingredients for some serious world class rallying to wrap up the season. But we had to work hard to reach the Stop Control in the heart of Clocaenog Forest after some less-than-slick navigation through the local maze of narrow lanes.

While we were struggling with the maps and a compass (yes, the old fashioned way; no expensive satnav for us!), the WRC stars had already started SS1 (‘Gwydyr’, 6.95km). As we parked up near the Stop Control of SS3, a weak telephone signal brought us the top times. Ogier (VW/Michelin) was fastest, chased by team-mate Latvala and Ford’s Thierry Neuville, and this trio was covered by just 1.6s. Further back were Mikkelsen (VW, +5.3s) and Citroën’s Mikko Hirvonen who trailed the 2013 champion by a kilometre per second…

Ogier, Latvala and Neuville finished in the same order on SS2 (Penmachno, 10,51km) which was another drama-free run for the front-runners despite the treacherously slippery conditions.

Judging from the drivers’ comments after Clocaenog, however, the loop’s final test was the most slippery of all, as Thierry Neuville turned in the fastest time to squeeze past Latvala (who dropped time with an off) and into second spot, 3.2s short of Ogier.

“Very slippery,” confirmed the Belgian youngster who admitted to losing around a second after going wide through the last hairpin. “The front sump guard took a knock on SS2 and I’ve been having trouble with the gearshift ever since. Something has broken…”

Ogier had a ‘moment’ on the same hairpin but survived to complete the opening day in first place: “That was very slippery, but running second on the road behind Jari-Matti allowed me to observe his lines which was a big help.”

The Finn dropped 3½ seconds to Neuville on the 7.52km test but still completed the first day in third place, 5.2s behind his team-mate. “The first two stages were okay running first on the road, but the last one was far more slippery,” he reported. “I went off early on and dropped around three seconds. I think being the second or third into the stage must have been easier.”

Mikko Hirvonen (Citroën, 16.2s), Mads Ostberg (Ford, +16.2s) and Andreas Mikkelsen (VW, 27.4s) rounded off this evening’s top six.

En quelques minutes de route seulement, on est passé de la zone industrielle de Deeside où est dressé le parc d’assistance, à la campagne galloise vers Yr Myddgrug, plus profonde vers Ruthin. Puis les choses se sont compliquées…

Car oui, on suit le Wales Rally GB à l’ancienne : cartes et boussole, GPS interdit, téléphones portables tolérés pour appeler les secours et recevoir les temps des spéciales. Honnêtement, on pensait pas que la boussole nous serait utile… Notre quête de l’arrivée de l’ES3 nous amené trop au Sud, vers Clawdd-Newydd. On avait alors deux options : couper à travers la campagne pour traverser Clocaenog et continuer vers le Nord pour rattraper la bonne route. Ou faire demi-tour. Jamais de la vie !

Nous voilà partis sur des routes à peine plus larges que la voiture, dans la nuit noire et sous une pluie battante. On a dû dégager les branches d’un arbre pour rouvrir la voie vers Clocaenog où nous avons pris trop à droite… C’était reparti pour une chevauchée fantastique dans ce Dédale gallois. Après quelques kilomètres, autant de demi-tours dans des cours de fermes, on a finalement dû sortir cartes ET boussole pour trouver le point-stop perdu dans une forêt. On avait deux heures d’avance et le vent nous apportait un zeste de signal pour recevoir les temps des ES1 et 2.

Il était près de 21h00 quand la Polo R WRC de Latvala s’est immobilisée devant nous , après 4min29s3 d’effort dans la gadoue : « C’était la plus glissante des trois, j’ai perdu quelques secondes au début. ».

« Oui, vraiment très glissante » a confirmé son équipier Sébastien Ogier (4min26s3) qui venait de remporter les deux ES précédentes. « Au niveau des conditions, ça ne changeait pas grand-chose, mais c’était bien d’être 2^e sur la route pour avoir des traces, des points de repères. »

C’est Thierry Neuville qui a signé le meilleur chrono dans cette ES3 (4min25s9), malgré une seconde perdue dans la dernière épingle. « On a touché quelque chose sous la voiture dans l’ES2 et j’ai du mal à passer les rapports », a déclaré le Belge à l’arrivée. Robert Kubica (Citroën DS3 WRC) était content d’en avoir terminé avec la nuit. Il a signé le 6^e meilleur temps (+6s3), devant Novikov, Ostberg et Sordo, et seulement à 3/10^e de Mikkelsen.

It’s raining in Wales / Et tombe la pluie…

The rain was falling almost horizontally as we arrived at the service park in North Wales this morning. The WRC drivers are busy with shakedown about 30km from the event’s headquarters in Deeside, with ‘Qualifying’ due to start at 10:45am, followed by the rally’s first three stages this evening, at night.

La pluie tombe à l’horizontal ce matin au nord du Pays de Galles. Les pilotes WRC effectuent leur Shakedown à une trentaine de kilomètres du parc de Deeside, avant la Qualifying stage à partir de 10h45 et les trois premières spéciales ce soir, en nocturne.

While competitors were busy completing recce on Wednesday, there was a long meeting in Deeside between representatives of the WRC’s factory teams, Michelin and the championship’s promoters. Different topics were discussed, including the issue of start orders for 2014.

Later, Malcolm Wilson (M-Sport), Jost Capito (VW) and Yves Matton (Citroën) took advantage of the traditional ‘Happy Hour’ gathering in the Qatar M-Sport hospitality facility to address the media jointly: “We want to assure you that we are all working together, along with Hyundai and Michelin, to propose the best solution possible. It was a positive meeting.”

Their reaction was in response to a suggested change to the current situation which would have seen the championship leader run first on the road on Days 1 and 2, with positions reversed for Day 3. On gravel events, this solution would most likely penalise the championship leader, and this is something Capito does not want. “It is inacceptable. We don’t want to have to ask our drivers to finish fourth or fifth on the season’s early rallies in order to be in a good position for the rest of the championship.”

“I don’t want to pay my drivers to drive slowly,” added Wilson.

“The proposal we made today is a step in the right direction and we are unanimously behind it. It will be debated at the next World Council meeting on December 6,” noted Matton.

Later during the Ford Happy Hour, Thierry Neuville’s co-driver Nicolas Gilsoul was presented with the Michael ‘Beef’ Park Trophy which has gone to the ‘co-driver of the year’ since 2006. This year, the jury of experts chose the Belgian ahead of Julien Ingrassia who was also on the shortlist.

“I am very touched,” said Nicolas. “This has been a fantastic season for Thierry and me. In 2005, the year Michael Park died, I was a co-driver on Belgian events. My first experience of Wales Rally GB was in 2007 when I was team coordinator for Bernard Munster.”

The Qatar M-Sport drivers each had a day of testing before the event, and Evgeny Novikov crashed during his. There were no pre-rally tests for Citroën Abu Dhabi Racing’s nominated drivers, although Robert Kubica was given a chance to try the DS3 WRC with his new co-driver Michele Ferrara, whose last competitive outing was in a Twingo R2 in Sanremo! VW’s trio had one day of testing each.

This morning’s shakedown times were topped by Ogier (1m54.9s), Neuville (1m56.9s) and Novikov (1m57.2s).

Hier, la journée fut studieuse pour les concurrents qui ont terminé les reconnaissances du Wales Rally GB 2013, et pour les représentants des teams officiels et de Michelin réunis en meeting avec les promoteurs du WRC.

Au cours de cette longue réunion, différents sujets ont été abordés, comme celui des ordres de départ pour la saison 2014. Hier soir, au cours du traditionnel « Happy Hour » au motor-home Qatar M-Sport, Malcolm Wilson (M-Sport), Jost Capito (VW) et Yves Matton (Citroën) ont pris la parole face aux médias : « Nous sommes là pour vous assurer que nous travaillons ensemble, avec Hyundai et Michelin, pour proposer la meilleure solution possible. La réunion a été positive. »

Lors du dernier Conseil Mondial, il avait été proposé que le leader du championnat ouvre les deux premiers jours et le classement du rallye soit inversé pour le troisième jour. Une solution qui pénalisait lourdement le leader du championnat et contre laquelle s’est élevé Jost Capito. « C’était inacceptable. On ne peut pas demander à nos pilotes de terminer volontairement 4^e ou 5^e sur les rallyes du début d’année pour être bien positionné pour la suite du championnat. »

« On ne veut pas payer les pilotes à rouler lentement », a ajouté Malcolm Wilson. « La solution que nous avons proposée aujourd’hui va dans le bon sens et a fait l’unanimité. Elle sera débattue au prochain Conseil Mondial le 6 décembre », a déclaré Yves Matton. Wait and see…

Puis, toujours sous la structure M-Sport, Nicolas Gilsoul, copilote de Thierry Neuville, a reçu le « Michael Park Beef Trophy » qui récompense depuis 2006 le copilote de l’année. Le trophée s’est joué entre Julien Ingrassia et Nicolas Gilsoul, et c’est le Belge qui a été désigné par un jury d’experts. « Je suis vraiment touché », a déclaré Nicolas. « Cette saison a été fantastique pour Thierry et moi avec nos premiers podiums en WRC. En 2005, l’année où Michael Park a disparu, j’étais copilote sur les rallyes belges. Mon premier Wales Rally GB remonte à 2007, j’étais alors coordinateur dans l’équipe de Bernard Munster. »

Les pilotes Qatar M-Sport ont effectué une journée d’essais chacun au cours de laquelle le Russe Evgeny Novikov est sorti de la route. Pas de tests pour les pilotes officiels Citroën Abu Dhabi Racing, seul Robert Kubica a pu rouler avec son nouveau copilote Michele Ferrara (35 ans) qui passe d’une Twingo R2 au Rallye Sanremo à une DS3 WRC au Wales Rally GB ! Chez VW, les trois pilotes ont roulé une journée chacun.

Les temps du Shakedown viennent de tomber eux-aussi, comme la pluie : Ogier (1min54s9) devance Neuville (1min56s9) et Novikov (1min57s2)

KTM "classic" by Motosketches

1962 PORSCHE 356B 1600 SUPER 90 GT

This 1962 Porsche 356B 1600 Super 90 GT is a great example of just how good looking a properly sorted 356 can be. Originally built as a rally car to full GT specification, the 356 came from the factory fitted with lightweight aluminium doors and plexiglass windows.

After an early life as a rally-racer, the car ended up in a private French collection for over 30 years before finally being sold on to another collector in 2006 who sent the car for a full restoration.

During the restoration process the new owner specified that the car should be fitted with a series of period-correct enhancements, including: an aluminium bonnet with centre filler, an aluminium engine lid and frame, all brakes upgraded from drums to Porsche annular-discs, a steel rear roll-hoop, an 80-litre GT fuel tank with centre filler neck, Carrera oil lines and front oil cooler, a built-in Zero 360 fire extinguisher system, a 2.0 litre (push-rod) race engine built by Maxted-Page & Prill (165bhp), a Carrera 2 GT gearbox ratio, a limited slip differential, GT dampers and a single outlet exhaust.

The car now come complete with an FIA Historic Technical Passport – suitable for a wide series of historic racing events in Europe and around the world. It’s now offered for sale with its original matching-numbers engine, making it a best-of-both-worlds proposition for the classic car collector who’s been looking to get into historic racing.

Click here to read more.

Via SILODROME

OVATION 6.8 BY GANZ BOATS

Speedboats are one of those things that every man should own, at least once in his life. The Ovation 6.8 by Ganz Boats is a great example of what’s available if you have enough small green pieces of paper and although it’s no Baby Bootlegger, it is a remarkable work of design.

Ganz Boats offer a multitude of engine options including the usual gasoline and diesel with the additional option of a hybrid engine set up. The company is based in Switzerland so you can expect the build quality to be a step beyond the usual fibreglass offerings down at the local marina.

The Ovation 6.8 has a hydraulic rear swim platform, it can be lowered to allow easy access to the water, and then raised again to improve handling and hydrodynamics. The hull is a highly developed, high-speed planing design capable of speeds in excess of 45 knots with the 400hp engine option.

Visit Ganz Boats here.

Via SILODROME

Passion at Work

First episode in what promises to be a great little series. “The first time I felt that tire hook up on asphalt … whoa.” Watch Matt’s #WhyIRide story. - 

2006 Ducati Sport Classic by Corse Motorcycles

Written by Ian Lee.

What's better than a Ducati Sport Classic 1000? A Ducati Sport Classic built by an ex World Super Bike/Moto GP mechanic. It doesn't get much better than that. This machine has an amazing mix of aesthetics and power that just whispers seductively in your ear: 'look at me'. Over 10 years experience on the European racing scene, including some time at the Ducati factory, has culminated in today's feature bike: Corse Motorcycles' rework of the 2006 Ducati Sport Classic. 

Opened in 2012, Corse Motorcycles is the baby of Anthony Warnock, a well travelled mechanic who specialises in late model Ducatis. According to Anthony: ”I was lucky – I went to the UK to study motorcycle engineering for one year, that turned into two and then I got the opportunity to work in British Superbikes, after a short term at Warrs Harley Davidson in London. Then it just kept getting better and better”. After his time in Europe was over, Anthony returned to his home town of Perth, in Western Australia, and after a few luckless job changes, took the plunge of starting his own business. And that is how Corse Motorcycles came into being. 

One of Anthony's customers, and now friend, is Nat Graham-Helwig. A late model, fast bike aficionado who has an eye for detail, and the right mechanic in Anthony to help him transform the stock Sport Classic into something unique. Six months of discussion as to the desired look, meant a few changes during the course of the build. For instance, three seats and four sets of handlebars were tried before settling on a choice of what adorns the bike today.

Utilising the factory fuel tank and rear cowl, they both sport a two tone paintjob, with gold pinstripe. A Wasp tail tidy sits under the ducktail, flanked by Rizoma indicators. The seat that was finally chosen is finished in diamond quill design with white stitching. Keeping with the 'look at me' styling are the Rizoma billet timing covers with Perspex windows, showcasing the EVR clutch componentry.

This bike isn't just about looks though, with Anthony's experience in motorcycle racing producing a hell of a handling setup. Front forks, rear shock and steering damper are all Ohlins branded and black Rizoma fluid reservoirs. On the front forks sit Discacciati billet brake calipers, biting into new rotors with titanium hardware. The Ducati rolls on black rims wrapped in Metzeler Race Tech K3 rubber. 

The power output for the bike has been bumped up as well, the Italian powerplant treated to a Wasp power up kit, along with twin K & N filters and a Power Commander. The engine is held together using a Pro Bolt engine fastener kit. Power is shot to the back wheel from a 14 tooth sprocket through a 520 chain, protected by a Speedy Moto sprocket cover. Sitting in place of the sky cannon stick exhaust, sits a Moto Creations shotgun exhaust. 

The final choice in bars ended being Woodcraft clip-ons, mounted along with Brembo RCS brake and clutch master cylinders. Hydraulic connection from the cylinders are through a Goodrich brake and clutch line kit. The headlight and instruments have been treated to powder coating.

From a standard Sport Classic, to the bike you see before you today, you can see where years of experience have helped in the build. A rather sporting orientated bike that wouldn't look out of place at a local bike show, according to Anthony ”it's subtle but unique, sounds and rides beautiful and draws a crowd where ever it's parked.” Couldn't have put it better myself. 

via PIPEBURN

OFFICINE ROSSOPURO ‘EROICA’

Most of the leading custom builders work on commission—they get a brief from a client, a direction is agreed upon, and a motorcycle starts to take shape. Compromise is inevitable, whether it’s around budget or aesthetic direction.

But every now and then, as you can imagine, it’s good to get free rein. And that’s how Filippo Barbacane of Officine Rossopuro created this machine—a Moto Guzzi 1000 SP that he effectively built for himself.

“I wanted to make a very classic motorcycle,” he reports. “One that looks simple and clean. A bike that’s both slender and ‘long’.” Filippo wanted the color to look elegant too, so he selected a green hue from Moto Guzzi’s racing heritage.

The 1000 SP arrived in exceptional condition, with only 24,000 km on the clock—an unusually low mileage for a 1982 bike. And with a broad, torquey powerband, little work was required on the engine.

The highlight is the hand-crafted aluminum bodywork, a huge improvement on the somewhat chunky, squared-off standard paneling. The wheels are now spoked, rather than alloy, and adjustable Bitubo shocks are fitted to the rear. The front brakes have been upgraded to twin 300 mm Brembo discs, retaining the excellent standard linked braking system.

The bulky 1000 SP instrument panel has gone, and Filippo has flush-fitted a simple, single analog instrument into the custom headlight. The bowl is painted green to match the new bodywork, and is topped off with a hooded chrome bezel.

And why the name ‘Eroica,’ meaning ‘heroic’? “It’s to remember the past,” says Filippo. “When bikes were ridden by heroes, lying down and stretched out, the chin a few inches from the tank.” An apt name for a long, low machine like this one.

‘Eroica’ is now for sale; interested parties should make contact via the Officine Rossopurowebsite.

from BIKEEXIF

YAMAHA SR400 ‘BOOGIE SINGLE RACER’

The Yamaha SR400 has been selling strongly in Japan for over three decades now, so the locals are well versed in making the venerable thumper look good. This is one of the best we’ve seen: an archetype of the classic Japanese custom style, with perfectly judged proportions and a beguiling mix of old and new.

‘Boogie Single Racer’ is the third and final Yard Built machine from Yamaha’s EICMA display. It’s no surprise to learn that one of Tokyo’s top custom builders—an SR specialist of some 16 years—helped out with this one. The transformation looks simple, but a lot of work has gone into this build. Beautiful vintage Ceriani forks have been grafted on, the tank has been painstakingly cut-and-shut, and there’s a neat rear frame loop that sneaks over the handcrafted fender.

The closer you look, the more there is to see. The front drum brake is a vintage Honda fitment, and the wheel rims and tank and oil caps have been treated to elegant filigree-style engraving. The metalworking throughout is immaculate, contrasting with the slightly rough finish of the paint. It’s an authentic rather than slick result. Adding to the vintage look are curvaceous side panels, a Bates headlight and old-school rubber footpegs.

Like the two other Yard Built customs revealed at the Italian EICMA show, this SR400 is the brainchild of Yamaha Europe product manager Shun Miyazawa. He’s a long-time fan of both the European and Japanese custom styles, and this build has a special significance for him—it takes him back to his younger days and “those crazy summer Sundays spent tearing around a secluded beach or competing in a sand race.”

Yamaha has just put the SR400 back on sale in Europe, and over the next two years, will be releasing several new bikes that also hark back to the simplicity of the past. And we’ll be seeing custom versions of those too.

“Customization is a big part of our story,” Miyazawa explains. “So we’re going to be involving more builders, from both Japan and Europe. As a manufacturer we can only show a few directions, but the builders can provide extra inspiration. That’s the idea behind the ‘Yard Built’ machines, and we’ll also be putting a lot of the custom kit from the show bikes on sale too.”

So … any guesses on which builder helped out with this SR400?

from BIKEEXIF

On the set of 'Grand Prix': Pit stop with Françoise Hardy

John Frankenheimer's 1966 film, a fast-paced story of Formula 1 excitement, featured many genuine racing legends on set - and a young French singer by the name of Françoise Hardy...

With James Garner, Eva Marie Saint, Yves Montand, Brian Bedford, Antonio Sabàto and Toshiro Mifune in starring roles, John Frankenheimer had put together an impressive international cast. Yet the real reason for the success of 'Grand Prix' - one of 1966's ten biggest box-office hits that year, winning three Oscars - was the thrill of the racing scenes, thanks in large part to help from Phil Hill: he captured real-life footage with on-board cameras at some 1966 Grands Prix, and also drove a GT40 camera car during the making of the film. Other big names making guest appearances on screen included Graham Hill, Juan Manuel Fangio, Jim Clark, Jochen Rindt and Jack Brabham. 

Fast cars, melancholy looks

There was another reason for movie-goers to buy tickets, and that was the actress who took the role of driver's girlfriend Lisa, namely the alluring Françoise Hardy. Her melancholy looks and gentle smile had already bewitched Mick Jagger and David Bowie, and on the set of Grand Prix, where she posed wearing the helmet of fellow actor James Garner, and at the wheel of a Ferrari, she likewise put the film crew under the spell of her innocent charm. She actually suffered from severe stage fright and hated being the centre of attention; hence the picture below, in which she perches, somewhat lost-looking on a float to help launch the film in New York, is all the stranger.

From Grand Prix to style icon

From the 1970s onwards, Françoise Hardy was only rarely seen in public, although she was still very much in the public eye thanks to her fashion photoshoots for Dior and Yves Saint Laurent.