WTCC Circuit Paul Ricard : MULLER and LOPEZ winners

RACE 1 – MULLER’S FIRST WIN WITH CITROËN

The reigning champion, who had inherited pole position after technical scrutineering yesterday, did not have the best of starts but took the lead in lap 3 after passing Michelisz and Tarquini and flew away to the chequered flag. 

Sébastien Loeb completed Citroën’s 1-2 after storming throughout the field from the last row in the grid. Honda took its first podium of the season, thanks to a great race by Gabriele Tarquini, who came ahead of Pechito López and a very inspired Rob Huff, who took fifth for LADA after a great race. In the TC2T class, Liqui Moly Team Engstler’s Franz Engstler and Pasquale Di Sabatino signed another 1-2.  

Key momentsStart – Tarquini takes a perfect start ahead of Michelisz, Mulller, Valente, Huff and Borković. Lap 1 – Muller passes Michelisz for second, while there is a contact between Loeb (already 7^th) and López; Loeb has another contact with Morbidelli as he takes 6^th. Lap 3 – Muller passes Tarquini at first corner and takes the lead. Lap 4 – Loeb passes Huff and Valente and climbs to 6^thLap 5 – Huff passes Valente for 7^th Lap 6 – Loeb (who has fastest lap in 1.44.389) takes third from Michelisz. Lap 7 – López passes Huff at the chicane after a short duelLap 8 – Muller leads with 4.5 seconds on Tarquini and posts fastest lap (1.43.801). Lap 11 – López passes Michelisz in turn 2 after a contact that puts both cars sideways. Lap 12 – Loeb is attacking repeatedly Tarquini for second but the Italian resists. Lap 14 – Loeb eventually manages to outpower Tarquini, while Michelisz, Huff and Valente fight fiercely for 5^th with the Brit brilliantly taking the advantage. Lap 16 – Valente also passes Michelisz for 6^th

RACE 2 – LÓPEZ RECOVERS TO VICTORY

The Argentine preceded his team mate Yvan Muller, winner of Race 1, in another 1-2 win for Citroën after the C-Elysées bent the resilience of the Honda of Tiago Monteiro, who led for most of the race. The Portuguese offered to Honda its second consecutive podium finish. Tarquini, Bennani and Loeb completed the top 6. The Frenchman had a more difficult Race 2 after an early contact with Muller and hitting the chicane tires later on. Franz Engstler won again the TC2 race despite being hit by Filippi at mid-race. 

Key momentsStart – Monteiro takes a great start and takes the lead ahead of Bennani, Münnich, Tarquini and Borković. Lap 1 – Chilton pushes Morbidelli into a spin and Muller is also involved.Lap 2 – Chilton is passed by López and Muller who slams the door on Loeb; the two tangle. Lap 4 – Valente fights with Chilton and Michelisz for tenthLap 5 – Monteiro leads from Tarquini who has passed Bennani.Lap 6 – López and Muller pass Tarquini after a small mistake of the Italian.Lap 7 – Loeb hits the tire pile at the chicane, prompting the exit of the safety-car. Lap 8 – Chilton is given a drive-through for the incident at the start.Lap 9 – At the restart, Monteiro keeps the advantage on López and Muller; but it’s safety-car again, as Filippi T-bones Engstler at turn 1. Lap 14 – The race restarts and López and Muller outpower Monteiro; Borković and Loeb pass ValenteLap 16 – Loeb moves up to fifth Bennani ahead of BorkovićLap 17 - Loeb passes Bennani for fourthLap 18 - López wins from Muller; Michelisz and Morbidelli pip Valente and Huff for 8^th and 9^th Lap 18 – Engstler retakes TC2T lead from Di Sabatino.

^{via fia wtcc}

ERC : An emphatic victory for Lappi in Northern Ireland / Nette victoire de Lappi en Irlande

An assertive drive from Skoda Motorsport’s Esapekka Lappi on the Circuit of Ireland, round four of the 2014 FIA European Rally Championship, saw him lead a Skoda/Michelin one-two, along with Sepp Wiegand. The two Peugeot 208 T16s both retired.

Le pilote officiel Skoda Motorsport Esapekka Lappi a dominé et remporté le Circuit of Ireland Rally, 4e manche du Championnat d’Europe des Rallyes FIA 2014. Sepp Wiegand a offert un doublé à Skoda/Michelin, alors que les deux Peugeot 208 T16 ont abandonné.

After winning the Rally Liepaja earlier in the season, Finland’s Esapekka Lappi added a second victory to the list by triumphing in the 2014 ERC’s first asphalt fixture, the Circuit of Ireland.

Esapekka’s pace was rewarded with seven stage wins on Day 1 which he completed with cushions of 12.6 seconds and more than a minute-and-a-half over Irishmen Craig Breen (Peugeot 208 T16) and Robert Barrable (Fiesta R5). Meanwhile, Kevin Abbring (Peugeot 208 T16) retired from a footing on the provisional podium with a radiator problem, as in Greece.

It looked as though Saturday’s action would provide spectators with a fierce fight between Lappi and Breen on Ulster’s notoriously narrow and bumpy stages. Unfortunately, the latter was eliminated by an engine sensor problem three kilometres after the start of the leg’s first stage. That took the pressure of Lappi who was able to cruise home to his second win of the year and move to the top of the championships standings.

The battle for the other two steps of the podium between Wiegand and Barrable lasted to the end when the German passed into second spot on the penultimate test to beat the Ford driver by 7.5s. In doing so, he secured Skoda’s first one-two finish since 2012.

Robert Consani was fourth after a strong drive in his Peugeot 207 S2000, ahead of veteran Neil Simpson (Skoda). Daniel McKenna won the two-wheel drive class in his Citroën DS3 R3 and came sixth overall, while the Production winner Josh Moffett (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX) was seventh.

The Junior victor was Jan Cerny (Peugeot 208 R2/Michelin) following the ‘off’ of the earlier pace-setter Chris Ingram on SS13. The result consolidates the Czech driver’s lead in the provisional standings.

Vainqueur du Rally Liepaja en début de saison, le Finlandais Esapekka Lappi a ajouté une nouvelle ligne à son palmarès en remportant le Circuit of Ireland Rally, 1^ère épreuve asphalte de la saison européenne.

En véritable patron, Esapekka a remporté les 7 premières spéciales du rallye pour conclure la 1^ère étape en tête avec 12s6 d’avance sur l’Irlandais Craig Breen (Peugeot 208 T16) et plus d’une minute et demie sur Robert Barrable (Fiesta R5). Au volant de la seconde Peugeot 208 T16, Kevin Abbring a été contraint à l’abandon (radiateur), comme en Grèce, alors qu’il était sur le podium provisoire.

Samedi, on s’attendait donc à un combat féroce entre la Skoda Fabia S2000 officielle et la nouvelle Peugeot 208 T16 sur les spéciales étroites et bosselées d’Irlande du Nord. Hélas, Craig Breen dut abandonner à son tour, après 3 km parcourus dans la 1^ère spéciale du jour (mécanique). Un boulevard s’ouvrait donc devant Esapekka Lappi pour remporter sa seconde victoire de la saison. Le Finlandais prend également les commandes du championnat Pilotes.

Derrière, la bagarre pour les deux dernières place du podium a duré jusqu’à l’ultime spéciale entre Sepp Wiegand (Skoda) et Robert Barrable (Fiesta R5). Le pilote allemand a pris la 2^e place dans l’avant-dernière ES et résisté à l’Irlandais pour 7s5. Il offre le 1^er doublé à Skoda depuis 2012.

Robert Consani a échoué au pied du podium après une belle prestation au volant de sa Peugeot 207 S2000. Il devance le vétéran Neil Simpson (5^e, Skoda). Daniel McKenna a remporté la catégorie 2-roues motrices sur sa Citroën DS3 R3 (6^e) et devance le vainqueur de la catégorie Production Josh Moffett (7^e, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX).

En Junior, la victoire est revenue à Jan Cerny (Peugeot 208 R2/Michelin) après la sortie de route du leader Chris Ingram (ES13). Le Tchèque conforte sa 1^ère place au championnat.

Prochaine épreuve ERC, le SATA Rally Açores (15-17 mai)

Indian !

VIRAGO XV535 BY OLD EMPIRE MOTORCYCLES

This Yamaha Virago XV535 custom, dubbed “Bulldog”, is the latest two-wheeled release from Old Empire Motorcycles – a British custom motorcycle workshop that’s become famous for their work with Royal Enfields over the past 2 years.

The Virago has become a popular target for custom bike builders in recent years, largely due to the eye catching work of Classified Moto and Doc’s Chops. The solidly built Japanese V-Twin was originally released in 1981 and over the course to its life it’s been offered in engine capacities of 250, 500, 535, 750, 900, 920, 1000 and 1100.

The most popular target for customisation has traditionally been the 1100cc model although in stock trim it produces a relatively low 61hp and weighs in at 221kgs, the 535 produces 42.3hp and weighs in at a lighter 188kgs – potentially making it a far better bike for tight twisty British roads.

The completed bike makes use of steel mesh around the headlight as well as on the fuel tank, its a unique look and works well on this bike and I can imagine that the look will be emulated by other builders – especially that headlight cowl.

If you’d like to read more about Bulldog or Old Empire Motorcycles in general, you can click here to visit their website.

via SILODROME