ACE CAFE RADIO

    jeudi 9 janvier 2014

    At a glance: The most important events of 2014


    Early planning makes life easy, so we bring you the most important dates from the 2014 international motoring calendar, to help you pick your priorities for the coming year...

    Scottsdale Auction Week / 12-19 January 2014

    The traditional Scottsdale auction week in Arizona sees all the major auction houses, from RM and Bonhams to Gooding and Barrett-Jackson, starting the season on a high. Previous highlights include RM Auctions' 1961 Porsche 718 RS Spyder with outstanding racing history.

    NAIAS Detroit / 18- 26 January 2014

    Can the BMW M4 hold a candle to its predecessors, or the new Porsche 911 Targa and Ford Mustang prove themselves worthy of the world's attention?  The Detroit Motor Show will answer these questions and many more.

    Retromobile / 5-9 February 2014

    Retromobile 2014 promises such treats as special exhibitions in honour of the French sports car icons from Alpine and the luxury cars of the Maharajas - as well as speed heroes John Parry-Thomas and Sir Malcolm Campbell. The Artcurial auction this year has an extensive Alfa content, too.

    Geneva Salon / 6-16 March 2014

    It's Geneva that traditionally sees the unveiling of the most stunning sports cars and concepts. Already confirmed for 2014: the world premiere of the new Lamborghini Huracán and the successor to the Ferrari California.  

    Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance / 6-9 March 2014

    If it's still cold and wintry in Europe, treat yourself to some Florida sun and the first major beauty contest of the season. This year, the organisers will honour the race driver Jochen Mass. 

    Techno Classica / 27-30 March 2014

    The Techno Classica in Essen is always worth the journey. With more than 1,250 exhibitors in 20 halls, there are large and small automotive treasures, including many classics from the Classic Driver Market.

    Grand Prix Historique de Monaco / 9-11 May 2014

    There are fewer sights more surreal than seeing historic competition warhorses thundering through the legendary hairpins of Monaco – but that’s what the Grand Prix Historique is all about. 

    Mille Miglia / 15-18 May 2014

    Though many participants complain about commercialisation and modern sports cars in the field, the Mille Miglia remains one of the top dynamic events for classic and vintage car enthusiasts. We can’t wait to see which almost-forgotten cars are coaxed back into life for this year's run. 

    Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este / May 2014

    The idyllic setting and distinguished guests (of both the human and automotive kind) at Lake Como make Villa d’Este 2014 a certainty in the Classic Driver calendar – even if the date hasn’t been finalised yet. Will BMW be able to outdo last year’s coup of securing Ralph Lauren as a guest star (and overall winner)?

    24 Hours of Le Mans / 14-15 June 2014

    We must admit, the famous 24-hour race has lacked a little something of late. Perhaps that something is Porsche, which return to Le Mans this year after a 16-year hiatus – meaning an enticing familial scrap with Audi is on the cards.

    Goodwood Festival of Speed / 26-29 June 2014

    This year’s theme is ‘Addicted to Speed: The Unbeatable Champions of Motorsport’, and will celebrate the legendary drivers, riders, teams and manufacturers who swept their peers aside.

    Le Mans Classic 2014 /4-6 July 2014

    More than 450 historic racing cars are already on the list to ‘perform’ at the grand spectacle that is the biennial Le Mans Classic.

    Monterey Car Week / Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance / 11-17 August 2014

    The only negative feeling you’ll have after attending Monterey Car Week is the disappointment that you couldn’t take a few clones of yourself along with you, in order to attend every race, concours, auction and cocktail party.

    Goodwood Revival / 12-14 September 2014

    Goodwood's Revival meeting is possibly the most involving spectacle in the classic car calendar. We recommend you start your search for the perfect period costume immediately.

    Mondial Automobile Paris / 2-19 October 2014

    Europe’s autumn motor show will take place in Paris this year as a result of the yearly alternation with Frankfurt. There’s still some time before the show’s news begins to trickle out to the media.

    'Life with Le Mans': Racing legends on Japanese roads


    When thoroughbred competition cars are retired from duty, they often find themselves lying dormant in a private collection, waiting for the 'right event' to coax them back to life. But not this trio – their Japanese owners live by their joint motto: "I enjoy the race car in my daily life"...

    a croquer ...

    mercredi 8 janvier 2014

    Dakar,Leg 4: an assertive run by Sainz / étape 4 : Sainz frappe fort


    The fourth leg of the 2014 Dakar from San Juan to Chilecito was won by Carlos Sainz (SMG Buggy) ahead of five Mini ALL4 Racing drivers. Today’s result has taken the Spaniard to the top of the leaderboard, tailed by Nani Roma, Nasser Al-Attiyah, Orlando Terranova and Stéphane Peterhansel who are covered by around 15 minutes.
    Carlos Sainz (Buggy SMG) a remporté la 4e étape entre San Juan et Chilecito devant cinq Mini ALL4 Racing. L’Espagnol prend ce soir la tête du rallye devant Nani Roma, Nasser Al-Attiyah, Orlando Terranova et Stéphane Peterhansel groupés en une quinzaine de minutes.
    From this morning’s start in San Juan, Argentina’s Ruta 40 passed through some of the country’s most splendid scenery (Talampaya and San Guillermo national parks, the Valle de la Luna, etc.) en route to the small town of Chilecito which is surrounded by orchards and vineyards hemmed in by the slopes of the Velazco and Famatina sierras.
    The stage itself was long and tough, with countless river beds to cross and deep, stony gorges. The organisers described it as the longest stage visited by the Dakar since Zouerat-Tichit in 2005. In reality, though, it was divided into two parts (212km and 284km respectively) separated by a long asphalt road section.
    Guerlain Chicherit (Jefferies) led at the first passage control, but the Frenchman was halted by a transmission problem at Km65 before the American prototype caught fire at Km427.
    It was a difficult start, too, for Leeroy Poulter (Toyota), who had to stop at Km48 with a problem at the rear of his Hilux pick up, as well as for Peterhansel (Mini) who dropped five minutes when he was forced to change a wheel at Km28. The Frenchman managed to recover some of his deficit, however, and he completed the stage with the second best time (+6m3s) behind Sainz (SMG Buggy).
    “We started with a late running order this morning and hanging dust was a problem during the first section. Then our power steering failed, but fortunately it was just 10km from the end,” reported the 2010 Dakar winner who has gone 2m6s seconds clear overall, ahead of compatriot Nani Roma who was fifth today.
    Third place went to Al-Attiyah (Mini) who actually led from the second to the eighth passage control, posting the fastest time for the first section. He then dropped 10 or so minutes after he got lost at Km500. The Qatari is also third overall, ahead of Argentina’s Terranova (Mini) who was sixth today. One of today’s top performances was the work of fellow Argentine driver Federico Villagra (Mini) who produced the fourth-best effort, ahead of Roma.
    Thursday’s menu will take survivors to the city of San Miguel de Tucuman via a 527km stage split in two by a 70km asphalt liaison section. The main difficulties promise to be the first big dunes of the week, some off-road motoring, sand and, to conclude, stony trails. Sainz will be the first driver to tackle the stage at 8:28am local time.
    Parc National de Talampaya, d’Ischigualasto, Valle de la Luna, Parc National de San Guillermo : depuis San Juan, la Ruta 40 traverse peut-être les plus beaux décors de l’Argentine jusqu’à Chilecito, petite ville entourée d’arbres fruitiers et de vignes entre les Sierras de Velazco et Famatina.
    Pour les concurrents du Dakar, Chilecito est toujours synonyme d’étape difficile qui amène une étape encore plus compliquée. Mais en attendant les premières grandes dunes et hors-pistes du Dakar 2014 demain, la spéciale du jour traversait d’innombrables rios et de profonds canyons empierrés. Difficile, donc, et longue, très longue…
    Annoncée comme la plus longue spéciale depuis Zouerat-Tichit en 2005, elle était en réalité divisée en deux sections de 212 et 284 km, entrecoupées par une longue liaison sur asphalte. Le prototype Jefferies de Guerlain Chicherit était pointé en tête au CP1. Mais au Km 65, le Français a dû s’arrêter (transmission) et au Km 427, le prototype américain s’est embrasé.
    Début d’étape difficile aussi pour Leeroy Poulter (Toyota Hilux) arrêté au Km 48 (problème de train arrière), et pour Stéphane Peterhansel (Mini), qui a dû changer une roue au Km 28 et perdu 5 minutes. Mais le Français est revenu sur la tête de course au fil des kilomètres pour pointer à la 3e place provisoire au CP9. Il a finalement conclu à la 2e place, à 6min03s de Sainz, grand vainqueur du jour sur son Buggy SMG.
    « On est parti loin ce matin et nous avons eu beaucoup de poussière dans la 1ère section. On a eu beaucoup de chance car la direction assistée a lâché à 10 km de l’arrivée », résumait le vainqueur du Dakar 2010, qui arrache les rênes du rallye à son compatriote Nani Roma (5eaujourd’hui) pour 2min06s.
    Nasser Al-Attiyah (Mini) a signé le 3e temps du jour alors qu’il avait fait course en tête du CP2 au CP8 et remporté la 1ère partie de spéciale. Mais il s’est égaré une dizaine de minutes au Km 500. Le Qatari est également 3e du classement général devant l’Argentin Orlando Terranova (Mini), 6eaujourd’hui. Mais cette journée a été marquée par la performance d’un autre pilote argentin, Federico Villagra (Mini), régulièrement dans le top-five, qui termine à la 4e place devant Roma.
    Demain, cap sur la métropole de San Miguel de Tucuman via une spéciale de 527 km entrecoupée par une liaison asphalte de 70 km. Au programme : du hors-piste, du sable, des dunes et des pistes caillouteuses pour finir. Départ en spéciale à 8h28 (12h28) pour « El Matador ».
    Classement étape 4
    1. Sainz/Gottschalk (Buggy SMG), 5h20min32s – 2. Peterhansel/Cottret (Mini/Michelin), +6min03s – 3. Al-Attiyah/Cruz (Mini/Michelin), +8min58s – 4. Villagra/Perez Companc (Mini/Michelin), +13min19s – 5. Roma/Périn (Mini/Michelin), +14min08s…
    Classement général
    1. Sainz/Gottschalk (Buggy SMG), 14h52min47s – 2. Roma/Périn (Mini/Michelin), +2min06s – 3. Al-Attiyah/Cruz (Mini/Michelin), +6min56s – 4. Terranova/Fiuza (Mini/Michelin), +13min08s – 5. Peterhansel/Cottret (Mini/Michelin), +18min10s…