Steven Palette ouvre les scores de la Porsche Carrera Cup France

par Porsche Carrera Cup France

Le coup d’envoi de la 29ème édition de la Porsche Carrera France a été donné ce week-end sur le circuit de Lédenon. Après des qualifications et une première course disputées, ce premier meeting de la saison a malheureusement été tronqué après l’annulation de l’épreuve du dimanche sur décision de la Direction de Course pour des raisons de sécurité, la piste étant devenue impraticable à cause des intempéries. Malgré tout, une première hiérarchie s’est établie à l’issue de la première course. Steven Palette a dominé son sujet après 18 tours d’une bagarre acharnée samedi. Jim Pla et Jules Gounon, l’Espoir Carrera Cup, complètent le premier podium. Du côté des Gentlemen Drivers, Christophe Lapierre prend le pouvoir devant son équipier Roar Lindland et un nouveau venu dans l’hexagone, Egidio Perfetti. Pas de surprise au classement général provisoire du championnat puisque les positions sont arrêtées après la première course.

L’unique course de ce meeting gardois s’est déroulée samedi sous les nuages mais sur une piste totalement sèche. Elle a toutefois débuté par un véritable coup de théâtre. Le poleman Maxime Jousse (Sébastien Loeb Racing) est contraint à l’abandon dès le tour de formation, et son équipier Christophe Lapierre s’installe aux commandes au passage des feux au vert. Steven Palette (Martinet by Almeras) et Jim Pla (Racing Technology) se calent rapidement dans les échappements du Gentleman lui soumettant immédiatement une grosse pression.

Si le trio de tête imprime un rythme soutenu, le peloton des poursuivants s’organise sous l’impulsion de Jules Gounon (Martinet by Almeras) suivi de Vincent Beltoise (Saintéloc), Joffrey de Narda (Sébastien Loeb Racing) et Mathieu Jaminet (Racing Technology).

Les explications sont viriles mais correctes et la course offre de très belles passes d’armes. Les Jeunes Talents se font de plus en plus pressant sur Christophe Lapierre qui résiste farouchement à chacun des assauts. Finalement, le Montilien cède dans le 13ème tour et laisse filer la meute pour glisser jusqu’au 8ème rang, direction tordue après un léger contact avec Jim Pla. Désormais leader, Steven Palette doit encore résister à un Jim Pla survolté, tout en maintenant la cadence. A présent installé sur la troisième marche de ce podium virtuel, Jules Gounon contient le très incisif Mathieu Jaminet revenu à un train d’enfer et entrainant dans son sillage Joffrey de Narda et Vincent Beltoise.

Parti du fond de la grille en raison d’une boite de vitesses récalcitrante lors des qualifications, Grégory Guilvert (Saintéloc) réalise la performance du jour en pointant 7ème, signant au passage le meilleur tour en course.

Chez les Gentlemen Drivers, la domination de Christophe Lapierre ne laisse planer aucun doute sur le nom du vainqueur mais les accessits se jouent jusqu’au bout. Un duel oppose Roar Lindland (Sébastien Loeb Racing) à Egidio Perfetti (Martinet Team Pro GT), arbitré par Daniel Diaz-Varela (Yvan Muller Racing), tandis que Oleksander Gaidai (Tsunami RT) boucle finalement la course à deux tours du vainqueur.

Sur la toute première course de la saison Steven Palette, Espoir Carrera Cup 2014, signe sa première victoire dans la discipline devant Jim Pla et Jules Gounon, Espoir Carrera Cup 2015. Le très expérimenté Christophe Lapierre s’impose chez les Gentlemen Drivers devant son équipier, Roar Lindland, tandis que Egidio Perfetti monte sur la troisième marche de son premier podium.

Malheureusement, le lendemain la météo se dégrade et le soleil laisse place à la pluie. Une pluie intense qui tombe sans interruption rend la piste de Lédenon impraticable. Pour des raisons de sécurité, la Direction de Course annule l’épreuve.

Les positions au championnat sont figées et identiques à celles définies à l’issue de la première course. Steven Palette s’installe aux commandes du général tandis que Christophe Lapierre ouvre les compteurs de la catégorie Gentlemen.

La prochaine étape conduira les concurrents sur le circuit Bugatti du Mans les 2 et 3 mai. Steven Palette y avait terminé deuxième de sa toute première course dans la discipline la saison dernière alors qu’il était Espoir Carrera Cup. Un Espoir qui confirme tout son potentiel.

Commentaires
Steven Palette (Martinet by Almeras) – Vainqueur de la Course
« Je cours après cette victoire depuis presque une année et aujourd’hui j’ai pu pleinement m’exprimer en montrant tout mon potentiel. Gagner une course ou un championnat, cela commence à se construire dans la tête. J’aborde cette nouvelle saison différemment et cette victoire fait beaucoup de bien au moral. »
Jim Pla (Racing Technology) – 2ème
« Une belle bagarre pour commencer, cela présage d’une saison mouvementée. Steven n’a pas commis d’erreur mais je me suis accroché jusqu’au bout. Avec ce podium et les gros points y sont associés, la saison démarre bien. L’expérience acquise en Allemagne l’année dernière sera précieuse et je suis prêt à me battre. »
Jules Gounon (Martinet by Almeras) – 3ème
« Première course et premier podium, je suis tout simplement très heureux. J’étais déjà satisfait de ma première qualification, « raisonnable », mais là c’est génial. Je me suis bien battu avec Mathieu Jaminet et ce premier podium est une bonne entame de saison. »
Christophe Lapierre (Sébastien Loeb Racing) – Vainqueur de la Course – catégorie Gentlemen
« Quel début de saison et quelle bagarre dès les premiers virages ! La course ne fut pas de tout repos mais c’est une belle entrée en matière. Malgré un très handicapant soucis de direction tordue, je suis allé jusqu’au bout en préservant la victoire chez les Gentlemen. »

Résultats
Course 1 (25’)
1. S. Palette (A) Martinet by Almeras 18 tours en 25:17.852 – 2. J. Pla (A) Racing Technology + 0.238 – 3. J. Gounon (A) Martinet by Almeras + 10.981 – 4. M. Jaminet (A) Racing Technology + 11.134 – 5. J. De Narda (A) Sébastien Loeb Racing + 11.526 – 6. V. Beltoise (A) Saintéloc + 15.187 – 7. G. Guilvert (A) Saintéloc + 15.297 – 8. C. Lapierre (B) Sébastien Loeb Racing +15.484 – 9. A. Cougnaud (A) Martinet Team Pro GT + 18.750 – 10. N. Marroc (A) Martinet Team Pro GT + 20.482 – 11. R. Lindland (B) Sébastien Loeb Racing + 28.956. 12. E. Perfetti (B) Martinet Team Pro GT + 29.424…
Pole Position : M. Jousse (A) en 1:21.663 (139.1 km/h) Meilleur Tour : G. Guilvert (A) en 1:23.239 (136.5 km/h)
Course 2 (35’) – course annulée sur décision de la direction de course

Classements

Classement général (provisoire après la course 1)

1. S. Palette (A) Martinet by Almeras 20 pts – 2. J. Pla (A) Racing Technology 18 pts – 3. J. Gounon (A) Martinet by Almeras 16 pts – 4. M. Jaminet (A) Racing Technology 14 pts – 5. J. De Narda (A) Sébastien Loeb Racing 12 pts…

Classement général Gentlemen Drivers (provisoire après la course 1)

1. C. Lapierre (B) Sébastien Loeb Racing 22 pts – 2. R. Lindland (B) Sébastien Loeb Racing 18 pts – 3. E. Perfetti (B) Martinet Team Pro GT 16 pts…

Classement Jeunes Talents (provisoire après la course 1)

1. S. Palette (A) Martinet by Almeras 20 pts – 2. J. Pla (A) Racing Technology 18 pts – 3. J. Gounon (A) Martinet by Almeras 16 pts…

Sealine Cross Country Rally : Al-Attiyah, Coma and Sonik lead after second desert stage

• Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah punctures but extends car lead with second stage win
• Austrian Matthias Walkner claims second motorcycle stage win for KTM
• Poland’s Rafal Sonik climbs to ninth overall and leads quads; Abu Issa close second

SEALINE (Qatar): Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah, Spain’s Marc Coma and Poland’s Rafal Sonik are the outright leaders of the Sealine Cross-Country Rally, after a demanding 398.88km competitive section across the remote deserts to the west and south of Doha on Tuesday.
Car, motorcycle and quad stage victories on the day fell to Al-Attiyah, Austrian KTM rider Matthias Walkner and Sonik. Al-Attiyah, Coma and Sonik now head their respective categories by 13min 03sec, 2min 03sec and 58 seconds prior to the third stage on Wednesday.
The all-important starting order was a big factor in deciding the outcome of the motorcycle stage and Coma played the tactics masterfully to reach the finish of the special amongst the leading group and in third position to ensure he maintained his outright lead over Team HRC’s Joan Barreda Bort.

“It was a very long stage. I start sixth and try to catch everybody and did that at km160 and then I was opening,” said Coma. “The last part in the dunes we make a big group together. It’s just the second day, another 400km tomorrow and everything is possible. It was not easy to find the rhythm.”
Walkner was pleased with his stage performance and the win. “It was quite okay. (Jordi) Viladoms did a really good job and made the navigation work. Now we have to work hard again tomorrow.”
Second-placed Barreda Bort remains defiant. “You never know what to expect for the next day now with these new rules. Everything is changing and you cannot control the situation. Until now I am doing a good race opening and making good navigation. The problem is the rules. Now you can win the race in the bivouac after the stage has finished.”
The virtual quad stage lead swapped and changed between Sonik and Qatar’s Mohammed Abu Issa in the early kilometres, but Sonik found a good pace with fellow Polish rider Jakub Piatek and managed to snatch the stage win and the outright quad category lead.
“He (Sonik) clipped on to a bike, a Polish rider, and I got behind, but then I punctured and then made a small navigation mistake and we rode back together,” said Abu Issa. “He gained the time on me, but I can do the same to him tomorrow and the strategy should work in my favour over the next three days as long as we have no problems.”

Saudi Arabia’s Yazeed Al-Rajhi was the early leader of the second stage in the car category, but Al-Attiyah and French navigator Matthieu Baumel produced another masterful display of driving and navigating to record the stage win and extend their Mini All4 Racing’s outright lead, despite stopping to change a puncture.
“We had one flat tyre after CP4, we change a tyre. It’s not easy to open the roads all the way and I think we did a really good job,” said Al-Attiyah. “It’s the same again tomorrow. We must both remain focused.”
Al-Rajhi’s goal at the start of the event was second overall and the Saudi and his German co-driver Timo Gottschalk performed admirably in their Overdrive Toyota Hilux to set the second quickest time and retain second place, although they also stopped on two occasions to change wheels.
“One slow puncture,” said Al-Rajhi. “We tried to carry on, but every 10km the pressure was going down, down and we had to change. Then, we get another one 180km from the end and have to stop and change. But second place was the target, so I am quite happy.”
Russian Vladimit Vasilyev consolidated third overall with the third quickest time in his Mini All4 Racing and Brazilian Reinaldo Varela reached the overnight halt in sixth, behind Erik van Loon and Joan Roma, after setting the fourth quickest time in his Overdrive Toyota.

SS2 – as it happened
Twenty-three bikes and four quads were given start times for day two. Portuguese rider Ruben Faria injured his wrist and headed straight for Sealine on day one, missing three security waypoints and incurring six hours of time penalties that dropped him from eighth to 27th.
New starting regulations meant that Coma opted to begin the stage from sixth position, with Barreda Bort and Sunderland in fifth and fourth on the road. Quintanilla was given the unenviable task of leading the way through what promised to be several hours of difficult navigation. Faria withdrew before the start and that meant that 22 bikes set out into the day’s special.
The wind had abated measurably and Gonçalves was the early pacesetter through PC1, although Coma was running strongly and managed to extend his virtual overall lead. The Spaniard had gained the stage advantage by PC2, after 136.67km, and began to pull away from a chasing Barreda Bort.
Al-Rajhi reached the first official checkpoint just two seconds in front of Al-Attiyah in the car category but, of the 31 cars that were given a start time, only 27 actually began the special following the withdrawal of the Dutch trio of Dennis Kuipers, Peter van Merksteijn Jnr. and Snr. after the accident involving Rene Kuipers’s HRX Ford on Monday. Qatar’s Sheikh Hamed bin Eid Al-Thani also failed to start after his Ford Raptor sustained damage on day one.

Al-Attiyah regained the initiative from Al-Rajhi at PC2 and the duo began to pull clear of the chasing Minis of Vladimir Vasilyev and Erik van Loon. Al-Rajhi’s Toyota was now running perfectly after the lambda sensor had been changed overnight.
By PC3, after 189.52km, Coma’s lead had been pegged but he was still running 79 seconds in front of Walkner, with Barreda Bort in third, albeit 2min 16sec behind the Spaniard in the virtual overall rankings. Al-Attiyah continued to edge away from Al-Rajhi at PC3.
Walkner actually managed to gain the motorcycle stage lead at the fourth passage control and Al-Attiyah extended his lead over Al-Rajhi to 7min 08sec, as the route crossed from the west coast of Qatar and began to head north of the Inland Sea and up the coast to the finish near Sealine. Both Walkner and Al-Attiyah held on to take the stage wins.


“It was a really long stage today with difficult navigation,” said Honda’s Gonçalves, who slipped to eighth overall. “I open for around 120km and then the other guys catch me. At the end I was riding a little slower to try and change the strategy and to start behind tomorrow. Now we will see. I start behind all the fast riders and I will try to recover some time.”
Third-placed Sam Sunderland is still confident he can snatch the win: “Yesterday felt long and this was twice that distance. It was tricky, mostly stones and a bit more variety coming from the west to the dunes. “I was riding alone until km115 and feeling good and then made a little mistake and Marc caught me. Then we stayed in a group to the finish. Another day finished and I’m happy to be here.”
This year’s Sealine Cross-Country Rally is being organised by the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) with support from GAC and the Salam International Group.
Tomorrow (Wednesday), competitors face a 392.52km selective section that starts a mere 3.58km from the Sealine bivouac and finishes 1.21km from the overnight base.
2015 Sealine Cross-Country Rally – positions on SS2 (unofficial @ 13.55hrs):

Cars

1. Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Matthieu Baumel (FRA) Mini All4 Racing	3hr 44min 19sec
2. Yazeed Al-Rajhi (SAU)/Timo Gottchalk (DEU) Overdrive Toyota Hilux	3hr 53min 40sec
3. Vladimir Vasilyev (RUS)/Konstantin Zhiltsov (RUS) Mini All4 Racing	3hr 54min 28sec
4. Reinaldo Varela (BRA)/Gustavo Gugelmin (BRA) Overdrive Toyota Hilux	4hr 04min 49sec
5. Harry Hunt (GBR)/Andreas Schulz (DEU) Mini All4 Racing	4hr 06min 53sec
6. Erik van Loon (NED)/Wouter Rosegaar (NED) Mini All4 Racing	4hr 07min 04sec
7. Joan Roma (ESP)/Alex Haro (ESP) Mini All4 Racing	4hr 08min 46sec
8. Marek Dabrowski (POL)/Jacek Czachor (POL) Overdrive Toyota Hilux	4hr 10min 46sec
9. Miroslav Zapletal (CZE)/Maciej Marton (POL) H3 Evo 7	4hr 12min 42sec

Bikes

1. Matthias Walkner (AUT) KTM 450 Rally Replica	4hr 06min 09sec
2. Jordi Viladoms (ESP) KTM 450 Rally Replica	4hr 08min 17sec
3. Marc Coma (ESP) KTM 450 Rally Replica	4hr 10min 16sec
4. Joan Barreda Bort (ESP) Honda CRF 450 Rally	4hr 12min 13sec
5. Sam Sunderland (GBR) KTM 450 Rally Replica	4hr 14min 15sec
6. Mohammed Al-Balooshi (ARE) KTM 450 Rally Replica	4hr 16min 20sec
7. Pablo Quintanilla (CHI) KTM 450 Rally Replica	4hr 20min 19sec
8. Paulo Gonçalves (PRT) Honda CRF 450 Rally	4hr 20min 39sec

Quads

11. Rafal Sonik (POL) Honda TRX 700	4hr 45min 48sec
12. Mohammed Abu Issa (QAT) Honda TRX 680	4hr 47min 45sec

2015 Sealine Cross-Country Rally – positions after SS2 (unofficial @ 13.50hrs):
Cars

1. Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Matthieu Baumel (FRA) Mini All4 Racing	5hr 36min 15sec
2. Yazeed Al-Rajhi (SAU)/Timo Gottchalk (DEU) Overdrive Toyota Hilux	5hr 49min 11sec
3. Vladimir Vasilyev (RUS)/Konstantin Zhiltsov (RUS) Mini All4 Racing	5hr 54min 36sec
4. Erik van Loon (NED)/Wouter Rosegaar (NED) Mini All4 Racing	6hr 08min 39sec
5. Joan Roma (ESP)/Alex Haro (ESP) Mini All4 Racing	6hr 11min 07sec
6. Reinaldo Varela (BRA)/Gustavo Gugelmin (BRA) Overdrive Toyota Hilux	6hr 11min 38sec
7. Miroslav Zapletal (CZE)/Maciej Marton (POL) H3 Evo 7	6hr 19min 35sec
8. Marek Dabrowski (POL)/Jacek Czachor (POL) Overdrive Toyota Hilux	6hr 19min 42sec
9. Harry Hunt (GBR)/Andreas Schulz (DEU) Mini All4 Racing	6hr 20min 07sec
10. Adam Malysz (POL)/Rafal Marton (POL) Mini All4 Racing	6hr 25min 20sec

Bikes

1. Marc Coma (ESP) KTM 450 Rally Replica	6hr 20min 17sec
2. Joan Barreda Bort (ESP) Honda CRF 450 Rally	6hr 22min 20sec
3. Sam Sunderland (GBR) KTM 450 Rally Replica	6hr 25min 13sec
4. Jordi Viladoms (ESP) KTM 450 Rally Replica	6hr 26min 26sec
5. Matthias Walkner (AUT) KTM 450 Rally Replica	6hr 29min 13sec
6. Mohammed Al-Balooshi (ARE) KTM 450 Rally Replica	6hr 31min 57sec
7. Pablo Quintanilla (CHI) KTM 450 Rally Replica	6hr 32min 25sec
8. Paulo Gonçalves (PRT) Honda CRF 450 Rally	6hr 34min 49sec

Quads

9. Rafal Sonik (POL) Honda TRX 700	7hr 26min 28sec
12. Mohammed Abu Issa (QAT) Honda TRX 680	7hr 27min 26sec

Ken Block tests the new Focus RS

Ken Block tests the all-new 2016 Ford Focus RS at a closed course in Germany. ESP and Traction Control Systems have been deactivated.

Ford revealed the all-new Focus RS, a high-performance road car that debuts Ford Performance All-Wheel Drive with Dynamic Torque Vectoring Control, which contributes to performance never before seen in a Focus RS. The all-new Focus RS is equipped with a new 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine producing well in excess of 315 horsepower.

The all-new Focus RS exploits innovative new Ford Performance All-Wheel Drive with Dynamic Torque Vectoring to deliver a new level of handling capability and driver enjoyment, combining outstanding traction and grip with exciting agility and cornering speed.

RS features a powerful new front end appearance with a bold upper trapezoidal grille above the deep splitter, incorporating the largest possible apertures for engine cooling. A wide, muscular stance is emphasized by the lower wings and large outboard openings on each side of the car, which feed the brake cooling ducts and house vertically mounted lamps.
At the rear, the fascia panel is dominated by the exceptionally large diffuser, which optimizes airflow from under the vehicle and contains the twin round high-performance exhaust outlets. Focus RS for Europe and Asia markets will also get a clear central fog lamp. The distinctive rear roof spoiler is carefully integrated with the car’s silhouette through body-colored side panels featuring a subtle embossed RS logo.
The dynamic side profile is emphasized by sculptured rocker panels, and the bold wheel lips that house a choice of multi-spoke 19-inch RS alloy wheels – including a high-performance lightweight forged design finished in low-gloss black, which offers enhanced strength and impact resistance.

The interior features the reworked Focus control layout with its simpler, more intuitive design. SYNC connectivity provides access to audio, navigation, climate control and mobile phones via voice control, and via a high-definition, 8-inch color touch screen. SYNC can be specified with rear view camera with park distance control, as well as a Sony premium sound system with 10-speakers including a subwoofer.

Four striking exterior colors include Nitrous Blue, a vibrant four-coat metallic finish exclusive to RS, as well as Stealth Gray, Absolute Black and Frozen White.

Magnus Walker | Outlaw Fever

Passionate Porsche collector Magnus Walker takes us on a night time adventure through the streets of downtown Los Angeles. This drive is super special since it's the first on Walker's own wheels.

Triumph Tiger 885

Brand: Triumph
Model: Tiger 885
Engine: Tricilindrico
Cc: 885cc
Carburators: Keihin
Air filtre: High power filtre
Exhausts: Moto GP Steel Inox
Chasis: Original
Subchasis: custom made shorter and thinner
fron suspension: Original
Light: MSC 6” Halogen Optics
Handlebars : Renthal
Controls: Original
Handles: Biltwell
Fuel tank: Yamaha SX 400 1977
Foot placement: Origen
Front rim: Original 19”
Front brakes: Pinza nissin Original. 2 disk
Tires: 110/80-19 Metzeler Karoo 3
Back rim: Excel 17
Back brakes: Pinza Nissin original 1 disco
Neumático trasero: 140/80-17 Metzeler Karoo 3
Custom Paint : Dave Designs
Handmade by Nomade Cycles: Leather sit (2 types of leather with sawing patterns) – polished – fenders – license carrier– light holders







   

via 
CAFE RACER's PASSION

WRC, Argentine : Un long sprint…/ A long sprint…

Seulement 12 spéciales au programme du Rallye d’Argentine 2015, mais un parcours total de 1641,54 kilomètres à travers les provinces de San Luis et de Cordoba. Sébastien Ogier rêve d’un premier succès en Argentine qui lui ferait égaler le record du nombre de victoires consécutives en WRC.

La 35^e édition du Rallye d’Argentine s’annonce à la fois longue et intense. Longue car les concurrents vont parcourir plus de 1500 kilomètres en trois jours et enchaîner des journées de 11 heures.

Intense car il n’y a que 12 spéciales au programme, qui représentent seulement 21 % du parcours chronométrés… Et si l’on soustrait les deux Superspéciales de Merlo (ES1) et de Villa Carlos Paz (ES6), ce sont 10 vraies spéciales qui sont proposées aux 28 concurrents engagés en FIA WRC.

Cette année, pas de Santa Rosa de Calamuchita et son célèbre gué, ni de Mina Clavero et ses fameux rochers. L’action se concentre vendredi et samedi au nord de Villa Carlos Paz, dans les montagnes Traslasierras, et vers El Condor dimanche.

Parmi ces 10 spéciales, beaucoup de nouveautés et des morceaux de choix. Agua de Oro-Ascochinga (51,99 km) sera à parcourir en sens opposé et ouvrira la journée du vendredi. Elle sera suivie par Villa Bustos-Tanti (20,31 km) dont certaines parties ont été empruntées pour la dernière fois en 2007.

Le lendemain, la très longue spéciale de San Marcos-Characato (56,77 km) sera nouvelle pour tous les leaders (certaines portions ont été prises en 2007) et Capilla del Monte-San Marcos (23,10 km) n’a plus été utilisée depuis 2009.

Sébastien Ogier ouvrira la piste sur toutes ces spéciales, et roulera à l’aveuglette puisqu’il ne disposera pas de temps intermédiaires. Il lui faudra surmonter toutes ces difficultés s’il veut enfin remporter sa première victoire en Argentine. C’est le seul rallye de la saison WRC 2015 qui manque à son palmarès. Une sixième victoire d’affilée depuis l’Espagne 2014 lui permettrait d’égaler le record de Loeb.

En 2014, il avait été dominé à la régulière par son équipier, Jari-Matti Latvala, qui part donc favori de cette 35^e édition. Mais le Finlandais n’est parvenu qu’une seule fois à gagner un même rallye deux ans de suite (Rally GB 2011/2012) ! La troisième VW Polo R WRC/Michelin (toujours une version 2014) sera confiée à Andreas Mikkelsen, sur le podium provisoire l’an passé avant la perte de la courroie d’alternateur.

Cette troisième place était revenue à Kris Meeke (Citroën DS3 WRC), qui découvrait l’épreuve. Avec une année d’expérience, on attend beaucoup du Britannique qui doit se relancer après un début de saison raté. Deuxième au Mexique, Mads Ostberg veut rester sur cette bonne dynamique.

On sait désormais que les actuelles Hyundai i20 WRC termineront la saison 2015. L’an passé, elles n’avaient pas fait preuve de fiabilité en Argentine, mais les Coréennes ont progressé et inaugureront un nouveau paddle-shift. A suivre donc les prestations de Thierry Neuville, Dani Sordo et Hayden Paddon, vainqueur de la catégorie PWRC en 2011.

Les Ford Fiesta RS WRC d’Elfyn Evans et d’Ott Tanak vont disputer leur dernier rallye dans cette configuration, avant des évolutions attendues au Portugal. Elles étaient performantes l’an passé (3 meilleurs temps), mais Hirvonen était parti à la faute.

Le Rallye d’Argentine 2015 débutera mercredi après-midi avec le Shakedown. La Superspéciale de Merlo est programmée jeudi soir (23 avril). Arrivée dimanche 26 en début d’après-midi. 

Although only 12 stages figure on Rally Argentina’s menu this year, the event’s total distance is 1,641.54km through San Luis and Cordoba provinces. A maiden win for Sébastien Ogier in South America would equal the record for the highest number of consecutive WRC victories (six).

The 2015 Rally Argentina promises to be long and intense, with competitors facing more than 1,500km of driving over just three days, and up to 11 hours behind the wheel per day.

The 12 stages account for no more than 21 percent of the total distance. Indeed, if you discount the super-specials in Merlo (SS1) and Villa Carlos Paz (SS6), the 28 FIA WRC runners will only contest 10 ‘real’ tests!

The customary visit to Santa Rosa de Calamuchita and its celebrated water-splash have been dropped, as has rocky Mina Clavero. As a result, Friday and Saturday’s action will stay in the Traslasierras Mountains to the north of Villa Carlos Paz, followed by a trip to ‘El Condor’ on Sunday.

Quite a lot is new, including the 51.99km ‘Agua de Oro-Ascochinga’ run in the opposite direction to usual to kick Friday off, followed by ‘Villa Bustos-Tanti’ (20.31km) which incorporates sections last used in 2007.

Saturday’s long ‘San Marcos-Characato’ (56.77km) will be new for all the top drivers (some portions previously run in 2007), while ‘Capilla del Monte-San Marcos’ (23.10km) hasn’t been visited since 2009.

Sébastien Ogier will be the first driver to tackle all these stages and, without the help of split times, he will have a challenge on his hands if he wants to pick up his first ever success in Argentina, the only round of the 2015 championship he has yet to win. If he succeeds, however, he will equal Loeb’s record of six straight victories, since the VW driver is unbeaten since Spain last year.

In 2014, he was thwarted in a fair fight in Argentina by team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala who starts as this year’s favourite, even though the Finn has only once managed to claim back-to-back wins on the same event (Rally GB: 2011/2012). Meanwhile, Andreas Mikkelsen will be in a 2014-spec Polo R WRC/Michelin. Last year, he was on the provisional podium before the loss of his alternator belt.

That handed third place to Argentina rookie Kris Meeke (Citroën DS3 WRC) who, with a year’s experience behind him, will be looking to recover from a poor start to the season. In contrast, team-mate Mads Ostberg will be hoping to build on his second place in Mexico.

We now know that the current-generation Hyundai i20 WRCs will run all season. They proved unreliable in Argentina last year but have since improved on this front and will inaugurate paddle-shift gear selection next week. Hayden Paddon won the PWRC class on the 2011 event.

This will be the last outing in their current form for the Ford Fiesta RS WRCs of Elfyn Evans and Ott Tanak, since a number of evolutions are expected for Portugal. M-Sport collected three fastest times here in 2014 before a mistake by Hirvonen.

The 2015 Rally Argentina starts with Wednesday afternoon’s shakedown, followed by the super-special in Merlo on Thursday evening. The event ends early Sunday afternoon. 

Bonhams announces new auction at Chantilly Arts & Elegance

In the wake of its inaugural Goodwood Members’ Meeting and Amelia Island sales, Bonhams has announced another new auction for 2015: the Chantilly Arts & Elegance black tie sale in France…

The Chantilly Arts & Elegance event – run by Le Mans Classic organiser Peter Auto – enjoyed athoroughly successful pilot run last year. As a result, the 2015 event schedule will include a new Bonhams auction, to be held alongside the established Concours d’Elegance, Concours d’Etat and Art & Elegance displays. According to Philip Kantor, European head of motorcars for Bonhams, the auction will incorporate a stylish slant in keeping with the rest of the event: “The concept is to offer a bespoke ‘Salon’ style auction, offering a limited number of very fine examples of collectors’ motor cars, perhaps thirty or so carefully selected lots for the ‘black tie’ evening auction.” Might we see the quality of the auction lots trumping that of the cars on the concours lawn? We’ll have to wait until the 5 September 2015 to find out.

Photo: © Rémi Dargegen for Classic Driver

DARK KNIGHT THE DUKE

Hidden away in a shed, just a guy building bikes. Tony, aka The Bandit, had been selling his machines for around 15 years to those lucky enough to be in the know but he has never before gone public with a build, until now. Our apologies to all of Tony’s existing customer’s but your secret is out, this man builds mighty fine motorcycles.

Operating out of a compact shed at his Staffordshire home Tony has finally succumbed to the interest in his wares and bestowed a name above the door, we proudly introduce Dark Knight Custom Motorcycles. Not that Tony even considers himself a Pro Builder, “I am just a guy who builds bikes because it’s all in the detail. I do it, because it is a passion of mine. It will never be about the money ever.” 

The Dark Knight Custom Motorcycles media debut was entrusted to this glorious 89′ Ducati Sport, a damn fine choice.

A lucky punter who had already experienced the quality of Tony’s workmanship on an XS400 custom called him up one day and asked if he could do Ducati café for him, naturally Tony responded in the positive, itching to get his teeth into some fine Italian metal.

“His idea was that he wanted me to build him a unique Café but giving it an old school look. We found the donor bike in Wales; it was a 1989 bike from a guy who had kept it in his garage for the last five years. She was in fair condition really, but what happened next, some would say was an unforgivable sin. The bike was stripped and what was not being reused was moved on.” – All sins are forgiven.

The engine was opened up and rebuilt with new belts, pistons rings, gaskets and oil seals before receiving a fresh coat of satin black paint.  Tony remarks that the motor is to this day as standard from the factory, apart from some performance coils. The frame was then cut and re-welded to accommodate the custom exhaust, sublime custom built aluminium tank, the seat unit and fairing.

“The tricky part was getting it all to fit. The front fairing was a total nightmare. After many hours of fiddling and fitting, I finally got the seat, tank and fairing to fit, and I think you will agree it looks amazing.”

The loom was stripped out and replaced with a custom built unit. All of the electrics had to be moved to accommodate the superb under seat exhaust system.

“I had to make a custom fuse box and heat proof the whole loom at the back end, so nothing would melt in the heat from that under seat exhaust. The exhaust was custom made in stainless steel. This was a tricky problem, getting that pipe to go up in between the swinging arm and the rear Mono shock was let’s say, very testing… No matter what angle we had it at, it kept hitting something. We done it in the end.”

The old brakes were thrown away and a special mounting bracket sourced so that later model front Brembo twin callipers could be installed. The rear brake calliper is a new item that was painted to match the front, for those shed dwellers who fancy copying the trick Tony helpfully provides the perfect colour match – Honda Y61P Inca. The original discs were then machined and re zinced in keeping with the original looks of the bike.

The three spoke wheels are the original equipment, they were painted satin black to match the frame and engine and a new set of rare Golden Tyres were fitted. The rear spring was replaced with a Hagon shock and the front forks legs were re hard-chromed before being machined to original spec. The RWU forks look fantastic with yet more satin black paint to finish them off, they keep the bike firmly in period.

For the bodywork the paint simply had to be that of all Italian machines with a sporting heritage, red, Ferrari Rosso Red to be precise.

“But we also wanted the polished aluminium to come through the paint in the form of the Ducati lettering. This proved another problem at the paint shop, but was of course overcome with the help of lots of Beer and late nights. So YES, the Ducati logos on the tank and seat, are not stickers, that is the Aluminium base. As is the stripe in the tank and seat and the diamond pattern in the front light fairing.”

It was well worth those late nights in the Dark Knight workshop, the finished scheme is gloriously lustrous and the attention to detail of the exposed aluminium lettering is just the sort of detail to have you falling head over heals.

“The fuel system was upgraded to suit the original Webber carburettor. The original Ducati Sport’s suffered with poor starting & running and it had an electric fuel pump fitted in the petrol tank. I threw that away, and fitted a vacuum fuel pump to help with the correct flow of fuel to the Webber. A handmade oil cooler bracket on the front of the engine was also fitted along with stainless brake lines and every single bolt was replaced with a stainless one where possible. A custom made throttle cable and unique quick throttle was also fitted. All the original switches were then removed from the bike and combined into one switch unit. The bike also features a one off handmade starting loom and push start switch located in the centre top yoke”

Tony’s meticulous attention to detail throughout the build process shines through in the finished product, a classically proportioned Italian beauty that must be a joy to ride.

“It is smooth and responsive, even with the original Webber fitted. Is the new owner happy? A BIG YES. Everywhere the Duke goes, she turns heads, and she is loud!!! She sounds Awesome…..”

We wish we had been amongst the privileged few to have discovered Tony’s work many years ago but will console ourselves by eagerly awaiting the next motorcycle to roll out of the DKCM shed doors.

via pipeburn

THE THERAPIST: JEFF VERALDI’S BMW K100 CAFE RACER

We often joke about motorcycles being a kind of therapy. But when Jeff Veraldi broke his back in a racing accident, it was a motorcycle that kept him sane—his BMW K100 café racer.

“Half way through the bike build, I burst my L1 vertebrae in an off-road truck race and almost paralyzed myself,” says Jeff. “Finishing the BMW became part of my physical, occupational and mental therapy.

“I wasn’t sure if I would ever ride again. Now I’m happy to say that I have, and it’s great.”

Jeff’s savior is a 1984 K100RS, built in the same year as he was born. It’s no longer a Flying Brick, but rather a simple and elegant cafe racer—stripped to the basics and fitted with sleek, monochrome bodywork.

“It’s my first motorcycle build, after watching hundreds of bike builds on television,” says Jeff. “I usually build racecars and off-road trucks, so this was a little different for me.”

Jeff chose the K100 for its Brembo brakes and master cylinders, Bosch electronics and the fine Fichtel and Sachs forks, held in place by hefty clamps. “But what I like most is the drivetrain: It’s a little car! An inline 4-banger with a car starter and alternator, and a dry clutch.” The shaft drive and a single-sided swingarm appealed too.

Wisely, Jeff has left the bulletproof 998cc engine alone. With only 18,000 miles on the clock, it’s barely broken in. He’s replaced the fuel pump though, and to be on the safe side, has also rebuilt the combined oil and water pump.

Look closely and you’ll see a custom stainless steel exhaust, much shorter than stock and routed to the right. (On occasion, it shoots blue flames out of the tailpipe on deceleration, Jeff tells us.) The fuel injectors are now the 4-hole type, for better fuel atomization and smoother throttle response.

The angular RS bodywork has gone, which has usefully reduced the 548-pound weight of the K100. The back of the frame is now a custom bent hoop, and there’s an Odyssey battery hidden in the new rear cowl.

Jeff enlisted a BMW dealership to rebuild the front forks and upgrade them with progressive springs. At the back, suspension duties are handled by a RAM custom rear coil-over from the UK.

“I dropped the ride height about 1.5 inches. I didn’t want to go crazy with the suspension, or spend a ton of money swapping front ends. The bike stops well, especially after dropping around 80 pounds—and the relatively cushy ride is exactly what I wanted, since I actually ride the bike.”

Jeff also resisted the temptation to install traditional cafe racer clip-ons: instead, he’s opted for custom bars that bolt to the bottom of the yoke and are rubber isolated. Another plus in the functionality stakes.

The rest of the machine shows the attention to detail you’d expect from a man used to building racecars. There are stainless braided brake lines with AN-3 fittings, and custom-made rearsets.

The sole instrument combines a GPS speedo and tach. And Jeff has even swapped the side stand to the right side, to better display the open wheel—and prevent oil from draining into the cylinders when parked.

When he broke his back, doctors told Jeff it’d be a year before he could ride again. But after seven months, Jeff felt well enough to wheel the BMW out of his garage and into the light.

“It was a good day when I finally got to throw a leg over it, and give the throttle a twist,” he says.

We bet. And what a fine bike to enjoy that priceless moment on.

via BIKEexif

Great achievements, illustrated by MassifCentral

Achieved something special on your bicycle recently? Looking for an utterly unique and stylish keepsake to remember it by? MassifCentral can illustrate your achievement like no-one else…

Your data, illustrated

According to the brand’s founders, cyclists and designers James Mason and Howard Smith, the amount of data that is produced during an epic cycling adventure is staggering. MassifCentral takes this raw data – the distances, the speeds, the routes, the climbs, the photos and the memories, and condenses them into a striking framed artwork that can be treasured for years to come. Speaking to Classic Driver, Mason said, “The idea was born from a cycling trip, covering the length of Italy, with four friends over two weeks. We talked about creating an illustration as a trophy but also as a form of documenting our trip. The worst thing when embarking on these adventures is how quickly the details and memories fade once you're home. Photos are great, but only tell a fraction of the effort and determination."

He continued, "I wanted to offer sporting competitors the ultimate memento of their adventures and achievements. In theory, the artworks can be adapted to almost any kind of sporting achievement, creating an illustration that can be annotated with almost any type of data."

Photos: MassifCentral

View the full range of available artwork and collectables in the Classic Driver Market.