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    mercredi 5 novembre 2014

    Brivio aborde le retour de Suzuki en MotoGP™ à Valence / Brivio previews Suzuki’s MotoGP™ return at Valencia


    Suzuki participera à la dernière manche de la saison MotoGP™ 2014 en wildcard avec Randy de Puniet et prendra ensuite la piste avec ses pilotes officiels, Aleix Espargaró et Maverick Viñales, lundi pour le premier rendez-vous de la pré-saison 2015.

    Davide Brivio & Randy De Puniet, Suzuki MotoGP Test Team
    Après avoir travaillé sur différents circuits dont Sepang, Termas de Rio Hondo, le Circuit of the Americas, Phillip Island ou encore Barcelona-Catalunya, Suzuki va disputer sa première course avec la nouvelle GSX-RR ce week-end à Valence, en la confiant à son pilote d’essais Randy de Puniet.
    « C’est un grand moment pour nous parce que ça fait longtemps que nous avons commencé les tests, » a commenté Davide Brivio, le team manager. « Nous attendons ça depuis un moment. C’est notre seule wildcard et c’est la dernière course de l’année mais je suis content d’aller à Valence et je pense que ce sera une bonne récompense pour Randy, pour tout le travail qu’il a fait dans ce projet. »
    « C’est la fin de notre préparation et je suis excité. Notre nouvelle aventure commence maintenant. Je suis conscient du travail qu’il y a à faire et ce week-end nous allons prendre note de tout ce que nous aurons à voir durant l’hiver. Ce sera notre première vraie comparaison avec nos concurrents, on ne peut vraiment se jauger qu’en situation de course et c’est donc un rendez-vous important. »
    Suzuki a remporté six titres de Pilote Champion du Monde et sept titres Constructeur en 24 ans, de 1976 à 2000, avec notamment Barry Sheene, Marco Lucchinelli, Franco Uncini, Kevin Schwantz et Kenny Roberts Jr.
    Leur dernière victoire remonte à celle de Chris Vermeulen au Mans en 2007, à l’époque des 800cc. Il s’agit de l’unique victoire de Suzuki en MotoGP™ 4-temps. 
    « Suzuki a une longue histoire en compétition et ce retour est excitant, » a ajouté Brivio. « Je sais que nos adversaires sont très forts et qu’ils ont continué à courir quand Suzuki s’était retiré de la compétition il y a maintenant presque trois saisons. Nous aurons donc du retard à rattraper pour réduire l’écart et beaucoup de choses à apprendre. L’objectif est de pouvoir nous battre avec nos adversaires dès que possible. »
    Quant au Test Officiel auquel participeront Aleix Espargaró et Maverick Viñales la semaine prochaine, Brivio a annoncé que les deux Espagnols disposeraient de la même moto que celle que pilotera De Puniet ce week-end :
    « La GSX-RR que nous utiliserons pour le test sera la même que pour la course. Randy cèdera sa moto et Maverick et Aleix auront la même. Nous commencerons ensuite notre travail hivernal pour préparer 2015 en nous basant sur les réactions de nos pilotes après leurs premiers tours. »
    Randy De Puniet, Suzuki MotoGP Test Team

    Suzuki’s return to Grand Prix racing becomes a reality this weekend as the Japanese manufacturer field their evolving GSX-RR at the Gran Premio Generali de la Comunitat Valenciana.
    Randy de Puniet’s presence as a wild card, overseen by the experience and expertise of Davide Brivio, will mark the first time the factory is back on the grid since the 2011 Valencia Grand Prix.

    Suzuki have been testing comprehensively in 2014 with sessions at Grand Prix venues such as Sepang, Termas de Rio Hondo, Circuit of the Americas, Phillip Island and Catalunya and have now chosen to rejoin the competitive action.
    “This is a big moment for us because we have been testing for so long,” commented Brivio. “We have been waiting for this. It is only a wild card appearance and it is the last race of the year but I’m happy to be going to Valencia and I think it is a reward for Randy for the big job he has done on this project.”
    “It is the end of our preparation and I’m excited,” continued the Italian, who has directed Suzuki’s MotoGP™ regeneration for over a year. “This is where the new adventure really starts. I’m aware we have a big job to do, and during the weekend we will take a lot of notes for the work we need to do through the winter. This is our first comparison with our competitors and you can only ever really see where you are through a race situation so it’s an important meeting.”
    Suzuki celebrated its six Rider World Championship titles - and seven Constructor’s titles - in a 24-year spell from 1976 to 2000, with winners such as Barry Sheene, Marco Lucchinelli, Franco Uncini, Kevin Schwantz and Kenny Roberts Jnr in the saddle.
    As they return to racing Suzuki will ultimately target a second victory in the MotoGP (four-stroke) era after Chris Vermeulen gave the marque a win in the 2007 French Grand Prix at Le Mans under the 800cc engine regulation. Suzuki’s last MotoGP podium appearance was at the 2008 U.S. Grand Prix courtesy of Loris Capirossi.
    “Suzuki has a long racing history and it is exciting to be part of the comeback,” enthused Brivio. “I am aware that the competition are very strong and they have kept racing while Suzuki stepped away for almost three seasons, so we need to catch up and recover the gap and also learn as much as possible to get to their level. The target is to be in a position to challenge our competitors as soon as we can.”
    Valencia is the last stop of 18 on the 2014 MotoGP trail but it is one in which Suzuki has enjoyed reasonably decent showings in previous visits. John Hopkins captured a podium finish with third place in 2007, Capirossi was ninth in 2008 and Alvaro Bautista also broke into the top 10 back in 2010.
    Suzuki’s work will extend beyond practice, qualification and the race across Friday, Saturday and Sunday respectively as the primary 2015 test will take place on Monday where tyre warmers will come off for new recruits Maverick Viñales and Aleix Espargaro.
    “The GSX-RR will be the same for the test as used in the race,” says Brivio. “Randy will hand over the bike and it will be the same spec for Maverick and Aleix. We will then start our winter work and our job for 2015 based on the comments and the feedback from those first laps with those riders.”

    ERC, Tour de Corse : Conclure en Beauté…/ a stylish end to the season!


    Le Championnat d’Europe des Rallyes FIA 2014 se conclut ce week-end sur l’Ile de Beauté. Le Tour de Corse, dont le parcours a été profondément remanié, a peut-être attiré le plus beau plateau de la saison avec 17 voitures S2000 / R5 / RRC.
    A l’issue du Rallye du Valais, il ne reste plus que deux pilotes en lice pour le titre européen 2014, et deux pilotes Skoda Motorsport. Avec 34 points d’avance sur Sepp Wiegand, le Finlandais Esapekka Lappi est en bonne position pour succéder à son équipier Jan Kopecky, lui-même champion Asie-Pacifique cette saison.
    Peu de suspense donc pour le titre, mais la bagarre pour la victoire s’annonce tout bonnement somptueuse sur les routes corses. Après avoir remporté le Rallye de l’Acropole en mars dernier, la Peugeot Rally Academy aimerait remporter une autre épreuve mythique, le Tour de Corse. Deux Peugeot 208 T16/Michelin sont engagées pour Craig Breen et Kevin Abbring.
    Trois champions de France sont attendus au départ sur des Ford Fiesta R5 et RRC : Julien Maurin, Stéphane Sarrazin et Bryan Bouffier, vainqueur de la dernière édition. Autre ancien vainqueur du Tour de Corse en 1993, François Delecour reprendra son duel de Porschistes avec Romain Dumas entamé au dernier Rallye de France-Alsace.
    Kajetan Kajetanowicz (Fiesta R5), Bruno Magalhaes (Peugeot 208), Jaromir Tarabus (Skoda S2000), Robert Consani (Peugeot 207), Jean-Mathieu Léandri (Peugeot 207) ou encore Eric Camilli (Peugeot 207) sont autant de candidats au podium. Le titre européen Junior se jouera également ce week-end entre Stéphane Lefebvre et Andrea Crugnola.
    La 57e édition du Tour de Corse, qui retrouve une date automnale, se déroulera au sud de l’île, entre Porto Vecchio et Ajaccio où se tiendra d’ailleurs la remise des prix officielle du Championnat d’Europe FIA 2014 au Palais des Congrès dimanche soir.
    Mais avant cela, un parcours « corsé » attend les concurrents, avec des spéciales empruntées il y a quelques dizaines d’années autour de Porto-Vecchio et de Sartène le vendredi, puis des spéciales plus connues des pilotes actuels vers Ajaccio le samedi.
    La plupart des spéciales mesurent plus de 25 kilomètres, commeSorbollano-Pont d’Accoravo(ES2/5, 26,10 km),Sartène-Orone(ES3/6, 26,66 km),Acqua Doria-Col de Bellevalle(ES7, 28,26 km) ouSarrola-Plage du Liamone(ES9/11, 26,68 km). Sur les petites routes tortueuses de l’Ile de Beauté, au revêtement parfois dégradé et recouvert de feuilles par endroits, elles s’annoncent donc longues et éprouvantes.
    Début novembre, dans les montagnes corses, les conditions météo peuvent également compliquer la tâche des concurrents. Pour parer à toutes les conditions, les équipages Michelin disposeront de pneus Compétition-Client R11 (soft), R21 (medium) et R31 (hard).
    Le Shakedown et la Qualifying Stage (2,64 km) se dérouleront jeudi matin avant la cérémonie de départ à Porto-Vecchio, à partir de 20h00. Le 57e Giru di Corsica débutera vraiment vendredi matin avec l’ES1Palavèse-Barrage de l’Ospedale (14,93 km) à partir de 8h31. Arrivée samedi 8 novembre en fin d’après-midi à Ajaccio.
    The 2014 FIA European Rally Championship draws to a close this week in Corsica. The event’s exciting new route has attracted 17 S2000, R5 and RRC cars – the best entry of the year.
    With a single round remaining, only two drivers are still in contention for the 2014 European crown, namely Finn Esapekka Lappi and Germany’s Sepp Wiegand (+34 points). One of them is poised to follow in the footsteps of fellow Skoda Motorsport star Jan Kopecky, this year’s Asia-Pacific champion.
    Despite the lack of suspense in the title fight, the battle for outright victory on the Corsican stages promises to be a real thriller.
    After claiming March’s Acropolis Rally, the Peugeot Rally Academy will be hoping to add another classic to its 2014 record with one of its 208 T16/Michelin drivers, Craig Breen or Kevin Abbring.
    The entry list also features three French champions in R5 or RRC Ford Fiestas – Julien Maurin, Stéphane Sarrazin and the 2013 Tour de Corse victor Bryan Bouffier.
    Meanwhile, the 1993 Corsica winner François Delecour will resume the scrap he started with fellow Porsche fan Romain Dumas on the recent Rallye de France-Alsace (WRC).
    Other likely front-runners are Kajetan Kajetanowicz (Fiesta R5), Bruno Magalhaes (Peugeot 208), Jaromir Tarabus (Skoda S2000), Robert Consani (Peugeot 207), Jean-Mathieu Léandri (Peugeot 207) and Eric Camilli (Peugeot 207), while the visit to the Mediterranean island will decide whether the 2014 ERC Junior crown goes to Stéphane Lefebvre or Andrea Crugnola.
    The 57th Tour de Corse sees the event revert to an autumn date and action will take place in the southern mountains between Porto-Vecchio and Ajaccio.
    Day 1’s programme features a number of stages around Porto-Vecchio and Sartène that were last used around 10 years ago. Competitors will then move on to more familiar territory nearer Ajaccio on Saturday.
    Most of the tests are more than 25km in length, such as Sorbollano-Pont d’Accoravo (SS2/5, 26.10km), Sartène-Orone (SS3/6, 26.66km), Acqua Doria-Col de Bellevalle (SS7, 28.26km) and Sarrola-Plage du Liamone (SS9/11, 26.68km). And with a carpet of fallen leaves adding to the usual challenge, drivers face a tough couple of days to wrap up the season.
    Also, the weather conditions in the Corsican highlands could well complicate life for competitors. To cover all the scenarios, Michelin’s partners will be able to choose from the French firm’s R11 (soft), R21 (medium) and R31 (hard) asphalt tyres.
    Shakedown and the qualifying stage (2.64km) will take place on Thursday morning before a start ceremony in Porto-Vecchio the same day at 8pm. Competitive action will kick off at 8:31am on Friday morning with Palavèse-Barrage de l’Ospedale (14.93km).
    After Saturday’s late-afternoon finish, Ajaccio will also host the official 2014 European Rally Championship prize giving ceremony on Sunday evening.

    How Jaffa Cakes helped the last Vulcan bomber to fly again


    At the 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed, the sole remaining airworthy Avro Vulcan bomber took to the skies of Sussex, much to the spectators' delight. Amy Shore went to investigate the heartwarming tale of community spirit behind the bomber's extended lifespan...
    The Avro Vulcan: designed in 1947, this sinister-looking 83,500lb war machine flew high enough on bombing raids to avoid being seen by either radars or (since it was camouflaged) by enemy aircraft below. Long past its expected lifespan, there is now only this one remaining airworthy example: XH558, which served with the RAF from 1960 to 1984 . But in 1997, Dr Robert Pleming started work on restoring XH558 to its former glory. On jet fuel, the Vulcan has a range of some 2,600 miles. Nowadays, however, it is only thanks to 100 boxes of Jaffa Cakes that it's able to fly at all, as Taff – the Vulcan’s lead engineer throughout its lengthy restoration – explains. 

    A Jaffa Cake crisis

    “During the restoration, we exclaimed to social networking followers that the restoration team had run out of Jaffa Cakes and were forced to resort to lonely cups of tea. Later that day, a Tesco van arrived at the hangar with 100 boxes of Jaffa Cakes for the team,” Taff recalls as he hands me my own cup of tea and, not surprisingly, a Jaffa Cake. 
    XH558 had an astonishing 10,000 visitors last year, and this year's tours are proving just as popular. That's just how the man behind the restoration, Chief Executive Dr Robert Pleming, wanted it. The very modest Pleming took on the restoration project back in 1993 and admitted that he didn’t quite realise the extent of the £7 million effort at first. “The most challenging aspect of the restoration was the funding. When we first applied to the Heritage Lottery Fund, our application was turned down. Then in August 2006, we completely ran out of money and truly thought that this was the end of the restoration. The public saved the project and have donated the majority of the funding to restore XH558 and it wouldn’t be here without them – it’s the people’s aircraft”

    Nothing lasts forever

    Sadly, the end of the Vulcan’s life is imminent, with its remaining lifespan standing at just one more year, eight years after the restored plane's first test flight in October 2007. “The aspects critical to flight have a set lifespan of how much wear and tear they can handle and we are slowly creeping up to that limit. However, we are confident that it will last until the end of 2015.” The chief pilot of the XH558, Martin Withers, adds that they’re taking the ‘every little helps’ approach to extending its lifespan, making small changes everywhere they can. All technicians working on XH558 are ex-RAF.
    When asked what would become of the Vulcan after its retirement, Pleming stated that there are very early plans for it to become a centrepiece at a new college he intends to open, aimed at 7-14-year-olds who want to get into engineering (with a particular focus on attracting more girls to the field).
    “We worked out that if you take the total cost of the restoration and apply it to the estimated amount of smiles that it’s given the public, you’d find that it cost about £1 a smile, which we think is completely worth it!”
    Photos: © Amy Shore for Classic Driver

    Cortina GT "Rock Star"

    Cortina GT "Rock Star" from Cool & Vintage on Vimeo.