Frua’s BMW 528 GT Coupé could have been Bavaria’s Montreal

After BMW’s takeover of Glas in the late 60s, the latter’s subcontracted exterior designer, Pietro Frua, saw an opportunity to establish a lucrative new relationship. As a result, he spent the next decade trying to lure BMW towards his styling services via a series of concept cars...

Earlier in the 1960s, Turin-born Frua had been tasked with the responsibility of styling an entire new range for Glas, a small Bavaria-based manufacturer that had made the leap from scooters and microcars to mid-range saloons and sports cars. In 1968, BMW completed the takeover of its smaller neighbour – but it was for reasons to do with engineering patents and factory space, rather than a fondness for the marque’s styling.

Catching the big fish

Undeterred, Frua set about creating a number of BMW-based concept cars in the hope of ensnaring design contracts for large-scale production runs from the Bavarian big fish. One of his final attempts came in 1976, in the form of the 528 GT Coupé. Taking a standard E12 saloon, Frua created a coupé body that bore all the trademark BMW cues, yet had a distinctly Italian flavour. Its resemblance to the Bertone-styled Alfa Romeo Montreal was obvious; there was also a hint of Lancia in there, too. Ultimately, Frua’s vision never came to fruition, and BMW decided to go it alone with its in-house design team. However, some historians argue that his influence lived on vicariously through the marque’s subsequent offerings.

You can find many modern and classic BMWs for sale in the Classic Driver Market.

WSSP ; Cluzel domine les essais Supersport du vendredi à Assen / WSS opening day at Assen dominated by Cluzel

Le Français a réalisé le meilleur temps pour devancer Kenan Sofuoglu.

Victime de problèmes techniques qui l’ont privé de victoires en Thaïlande puis en Aragón, Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) a signé le meilleur des essais libres de vendredi à Assen, où il tentera de rattraper une partie de son retard ce week-end après avoir accumulé une victoire et deux abandons depuis le début de  la saison.

Le Français comptait 0.132s d’avance sur Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) et près de trois dixièmes d’avance sur PJ Jacobsen (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres).

Lorenzo Zanetti (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) s’est classé quatrième devant Kyle Smith (Pata Honda World Supersport), cinquième malgré une chute en fin de séance.

Ratthapark Wilairot (CORE Motorsport Thailand) a terminé sixième, à 1.3s du leader.

La troisième et dernière séance d’essais du World Supersport à Assen aura lieu samedi matin avant les qualifications prévues pour 15h55. Des pilotes de la grille 2015, seul Sofugolu a déjà été en pole à Assen dans la catégorie, en 2010 et 2007.

Frenchman starts strong - keen to regain lost ground in championship fight.

As the opening day of World Supersport action drew to a close it was Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) who was sitting pretty atop the standings after two closely fought 45 minute free practice sessions. The Frenchman, who is keen to put the disappointment of the Thai and Aragon rounds, where he suffered technical problems while fighting for the lead of the race, finished comfortably ahead of his nearest rival Kenan Sofuoglu (+0.132s) who finished 2^nd.

Kyle Smith in 4^th was having an encouraging first day with his Pata Honda World Supersport team entry until he crashed with 12 minutes to go. The Briton who has already been on the podium twice in his debut season in Supersport would eventually finish 5^thjust behind PJ Jacobsen (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres) and the second MV Agusta Reparto Corse entry of Lorenzo Zanetti who were 3^rd and 4^th respectively.

Ratthapark Wilairot (CORE Motorsport Thailand) was 6^th and another of the leading riders crash.

For German rider Kevin Wahr in 7^th, it was his best result of the year so far since switching from Yamaha to the SMS Honda team for a full 2015 season assault.

Gino Rea (CIA Landlords Insurance Honda), Marco Faccani (San Carlo Puccetti Racing) and Alex Baldolini (Race Department ATK#25) completed the top ten after an eventful FP2 saw many riders fall. The session was red flagged with 20 minutes remaining following Dominic Schmitter’s. The Swiss rider dropping fluid from his Go Eleven Kawasaki. None of the riders who crashed were injured.

Qualifying for Sunday’s 4^th round is set to take place tomorrow at 1555 local time, where from the list of current WSS riders only Kenan Sofuoglu has taken a Pole Position here, back in 2010. He also took the Pole in 2007.

Que Calor ........

WSBK; Davies poursuit sur sa lancée aux Pays-Bas / Davies responds to head WorldSBK field after FP2 in Assen

Le Gallois a dominé la seconde séance d’essais à Assen après avoir décroché sa première victoire avec Ducati en Aragón.

Comme prévu, les conditions de piste se sont améliorées au long de la journée de vendredi à Assen et ont permis aux pilotes de continuer à progresser sur leurs chronos lors de la seconde séance d’essais du week-end. Cette dernière a été dominée par Chaz Davies (Aruba.it – Ducati Superbike Team), qui est ainsi passé en tête aux dépens de Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team), battu par le Gallois de 0.320s après avoir été le plus rapide le matin.

Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team), le leader du classement général, a signé le troisième temps et fini à 0.442s de Davies tandis que Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team - Red Devils) s’est classé quatrième.

Deuxième le matin, le rookie néerlandais Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) a perdu un peu de terrain au cours de la seconde séance mais finissait avec une encourageante cinquième position, devant Jordi Torres (Aprilia Racing Team - Red Devils) et Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki), qui passait de la 16e à la 7e place.

Le Champion en titre Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) a réalisé le huitième temps pour devancer Xavi Fores (Aruba.it – Ducati Superbike Team) et Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse), qui complétaient le Top 10.

Randy de Puniet (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) et Christophe Ponsson (Grillini SBK Team) ont respectivement conclu la journée aux seizième et dix-neuvième positions.

Almost everybody improves their lap time in Dutch FP2.

As expected, almost everybody improved during this afternoon’s WorldSBK FP2, with Chaz Davies (Aruba.it – Ducati Superbike Team) responding to the challenge from former champion Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) and current championship leader Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) to top of the overall classification by a margin of 0.320s with his final lap.

Championship leader Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) moved into 3^rd (0.442s) just behind team mate Sykes who was 2^nd, while Leon Haslam worked hard with his crew between sessions to improve the setting on his Aprilia Racing machine, the former championship runner up elevating himself into contention with the 4th best time overall.

Pata Honda World Superbike Team rider Michael van der Mark maintained his strong start to the weekend in 5^th.

Jordi Torres improved on the second of the Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils machines to finish 6^th with the biggest improvement of the day coming from Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) who jumped from 16^th after FP1 to 7^th.

Reigning champion Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) lapped consistently to end the day 8^th overall with Xavi Fores (Aruba.it – Ducati Superbike Team) again inside the top 10 in 9^th.

The surprise of the day was Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) who quietly went about his business, understanding the new electronics and posting the 10^th best time, making it 5 manufacturers inside the top ten, and giving MV Agusta their best Friday placing since they returned to the WorldSBK championship last year.

Looking ahead, there is only one opportunity remaining for the riders to make it into the top ten and avoid having to ride in Superpole 1 – FP3 will take place tomorrow at 0945.

To read the report from today’s FP1 please click here.