MotorCircus presents Mission Manx

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Hyundai Motorsport se renforce / A new face at Hyundai Motorsport

L’équipe coréenne vient de nommer Nino Frison comme Directeur technique. Thierry Neuville, Hayden Paddon et Juho Hanninen, engagés au Rallye d’Italie-Sardaigne et au Rally Poland, sont actuellement en tests en Pologne.

Après un Rallye d’Argentine plutôt positif avec un meilleur temps et une 5^e place pour Thierry Neuville, l’équipe Hyundai Motorsport a programmé une semaine d’essais en Pologne avec les trois pilotes engagés au Rallye d’Italie-Sardaigne et Rallye de Pologne : Thierry Neuville, Hayden Paddon, Juho Hanninen. Rappelons que Bryan Bouffier est quant à lui attendu au Rallye d’Antibes (29-31 mai) sur une Hyundai i20 WRC/Michelin. Dani Sordo sera au Festival of Speed de Goodwood fin juin.

L’équipe technique de Hyundai Motorsport se renforce avec l’arrivée de Nino Frison au poste de Directeur technique. Ce poste était jusque-là vacant, Michel Nandan ayant la double responsabilité de Team principal et de Directeur technique depuis la création du team.

L’Italien Nino Frison a travaillé en Formule Un (Ferrari, Benetton, Zakspeed, Lotus, Toro Rosso) et en Super Tourisme (German Touring Car et International Touring Car) chez AMG Mercedes. Il a aussi bossé en WRC, au sein du TTE (Toyota Team Europe), puis chez Seat Sport avant de rejoindre l’équipe Suzuki en WRC où il occupait le rôle de chef designer. Nino et Michel Nandan se connaissent donc très bien.

Toujours côté technique, le team a récemment fait l’acquisition d’un banc moteur ce qui lui permettra de mener différents tests et de développer le 1600 cm³ turbo de la Hyundai i20 WRC, actuellement le point faible de l’auto (surtout en altitude). Par ailleurs, Michel Nandan nous a confirmé en Argentine que le développement de la nouvelle Hyundai i20 WRC 2015 débutera cet été. Elle sera nouvelle à 95%, mais ne sera peut-être pas alignée sur les 1^ères courses de la saison 2015.

Enfin, Thierry Neuville et Juho Hanninen seront consultants pour Eurosport respectivement au Geko Rally d’Ypres (une semaine avant la Pologne) et au 24 Rally Estonia (18-19 juillet), deux manches du Championnat d’Europe des Rallyes FIA.

The Korean team has recruited Nino Frison as Technical Director. Thierry Neuville, Hayden Paddon and Juho Hanninen, who will represent Hyundai at the WRC’s next two rounds, are currently testing in Poland.

Rally Argentina proved reasonably positive for Hyundai Motorsport who bagged fifth place with Neuville. Ahead of the WRC’s forthcoming visits to Sardinia and Poland, the team is testing for a week in Poland with the Belgian and his team-mates Paddon and Hanninen. Meanwhile, Bryan Bouffier is preparing to drive an i20 WRC/Michelin on the Rallye d’Antibes (May 29-31) and Dani Sordo will attend late-June’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Hyundai Motorsport’s technical squad has been reinforced with the arrival of Italian Nino Frison who will fill the vacancy of Technical Director which, since the team’s creation, has been one of the responsibilities of Team Principal Michel Nandan.

Frison previously worked in Formula 1 (Ferrari, Benetton, Zakspeed, Lotus, Toro Rosso) and touring cars (AMG Mercedes). His WRC experience includes Toyota Team Europe, Seat Sport and Suzuki where he was Chief Designer, so he and Nandan have known each other for some time.

The team has also acquired an engine dyno which will help it to test and develop the Hyundai i20 WRC’s 1,600cc turbocharged engine which is currently the car’s weak point, especially at altitude. In Argentina, Nandan conformed that development of the 2015-spec car will begin this summer. Its new challenger will be 95-percent new but might not be seen on next season’s early rounds.

The team also says that Neuville and Hanninen will be pundits respectively for Eurosport’s coverage of two FIA European Championship events: the Geko Ypres Rally (a week before Poland) and the 24 Rally Estonia (July 18-19).

Follow your instincts

TOP 5 YAMAHA SR400

It’s one thing to talk about the ‘enduring appeal’ of a motorcycle. It’s quite another for that appeal to translate into solid showroom sales, year after year.

There are a handful of bikes that have stayed in production for decades, essentially unchanged—Royal Enfields and Urals spring to mind. But the king of that particular hill is the Yamaha SR400, a bike that has been punching above its weight for over 35 years.

Not surprisingly, there’s a huge array of aftermarket parts available for the SR400. It’s a mainstay of the thriving Japanese custom scene, and it’s now available again in the USA—this time with fuel injection. If you’re tempted to lay down some cash for a new model, or even dig out a secondhand one, take some inspiration from these five great recent builds.

Deus Grevious Angel Outside Japan, the Australian company Deus is probably the greatest exponent of the custom Yamaha SR400. ‘Grevious Angel’ is one of Deus’ signature builds, with looks that have scored it a place in Sydney’s Powerhouse museum. This SR400 is sporting a tweaked frame, an alloy bullet-style fairing, beadblasted engine cases, a CV carb and a K&N intake kit. The tank and ducktail seat unit are from the legendary Japanese brand Nitroheads, and the tires are classic Avon Speedmasters. Fans of Top Gear take note: James May has one of these in his garage. [Deus Customs]

Skull Motor Cycle No.19 With so many custom SR400s around, it’s hard to find one that’s truly different. This machine from a little-known Japanese workshop fits the bill, with radical hub-center steering and a pair of shocks tucked under the custom seat unit. The tank is from a Honda Dream 50 and the lovely pipe is from an XS650. Hiroshima-based Skull built this machine a couple of years ago as a showcase for their fabrication skills, and not surprisingly, it whipped the Japanese custom scene into a frenzy. [More about this bike | sr400times.com]

Gasoline Customs ‘Tomahawk’ Sometimes simple is best—especially if you’re after a daily rider, a role the SR400 fulfils admirably. We’re back to Australia for our third choice, this time to East Sydney’s Gasoline Customs, a workshop of some 20 years’ standing. There’s no rocket science in this build, but it’s beautifully judged—from the powdercoated XS650 wheels and brake rotors to the reworked frame and minimalist tail unit. The exhaust system is as simple as it gets, but adds to the industrial vibe of the machine. The tires, in case you’re wondering, are Shinkos originally designed for trials use. [Gasoline Customs]

Motor Rock SR400 #5 There’s relatively little ‘formula’ in Japanese custom building, compared to the West. You’ll often see the top workshops building a Kawasaki bobber one week, a Triumph café racer the next, and a Harley with skyscraper-high ape bars the week after that. Motor Rock of Nagoya is one such shop. Since opening for business ten years ago, they’ve built 20 Yamaha-based customs—most of them super-clean SR400s. Like many Japanese bikes, this one looks a little off-kilter to Western eyes. But it has a strangely appealing charm: there’s a hint of bobber styling at the back end, and a touch of café bike at the front. The detailing is beautiful, and the paint on the tank is to die for. [Motor Rock]

Boogie Single Racer SR400 At last year’s EICMA motor show in Milan, Yamaha Europe caused a splash by showcasing three ‘Yard Built’ customs. One came from the Wrenchmonkees, one came from Deus Milan, and one came all the way from Japan itself. ‘Boogie Single Racer’ was built by one of Tokyo’s top customizers—who officially remained nameless—and just drips with style. The forks are vintage Ceriani, the tank is immaculately cut-and-shut, and the rear frame loop isn’t simply chopped and tucked under the seat—it curves over the outside of the custom rear fender. There’s a vintage Honda drum brake up front and delicate filigree carving on much of the bare metal, including the wheel rims. Pure class. [More about this bike | Yamaha Yard Built Specials]

Last week’s Top 5 covered vintage Triumph hardtails.

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