Aquarama - Bliss aboard the most beautiful of all Rivas

Rémi Dargegen enjoys the boat trip of a lifetime when he’s invited to cruise Lake Iseo on board a very special – and beautiful – boat, the 'Happy Days'…

An invitation we couldn't refuse

If you love classic cars, the chances are that you also admire classic boats; and the star of all such boats (as well as the boat of stars) is the sensual and iconic Riva. In the mid-1960s, this was the must-have craft for movie stars and wealthy businessmen. One of the most famous of Carlo Riva's models is the Aquarama – and after our visit to the company’s workshop and collection a few months ago, we had the privilege of returning to Bellini Nautica for a ride in a very special example from its collection…

A perfect moment

Imagine: a sunny morning on Lake Iseo, a perfectly flat expanse of water and one of the most remarkable Aquaramas ever produced. Firing up the two V8 engines, it was time for a two-hour tour of the lake. It made us feel like Brigitte Bardot (or her husband), admiring the reflection of the sun on the wood, enjoying the wind in our hair as the air filled with the V8s’ roaring music. An utterly perfect moment.

Following in famous footsteps

It would be a wonderful experience in any boat, but even more so in this one: hull number 483, from the 3rd series of Aquarama, just three numbers short of Carlo Riva’s own Aquarama and the last one built by Carlo Riva himself. Only 40 boats like this, with the two side air-intakes, have ever been built. It’s been used in a great many Italian films of the 1980s, not to mention a more recent advertisement with George Clooney. A long stream of famous people have been on board, including Carlo Riva himself, Miss Italia, Miss Venezuela, the former Powerboat World Champion Guido Cappellini, Adam Clayton and, in the 1990s, Naomi Campbell... not bad for a little wooden boat. The craft was fully restored to its precise period configuration some years ago, and subsequently won the elegance award at the Veuve Clicquot Riva Raduno in 2003, here on Lake Iseo.

Try it for yourself...

All good things must come to an end, and it was eventually time to return to Bellini’s quay. We switched off the engines, climbed onto dry land, and took a long last look at the boat to ensure this wonderful morning would live on in the memory. Meanwhile, if you want to experience the same sensations aboard such a boat, you can buy a trip from Bellini Nautica, which has other fascinating Aquaramas in its collection as well as the 'Happy Days'. What a highlight for your next Italian holiday.

Photos: Rémi Dargegen for Classic Driver © 2015

NOVA: B-29 Frozen in Time

30 Years of TOYOTA at Le Mans: 1985-2015

The 2015 edition of the Le Mans 24 Hours marks a special anniversary for TOYOTA as it represents 30 years since the company's first official entry at Le Mans. From 1985 right up to this year's event, this video looks back at all the cars, all the drivers and all the action from 30 years of TOYOTA at Le Mans.

ERC, Ypres Rally : Du beau linge à Ypres ! / an exceptional line-up for Belgium’s classic

L’ancienne cité drapière des Flandres accueille la cinquième manche du Championnat d’Europe des Rallyes FIA 2015 et a réuni un plateau exceptionnel avec Freddy Loix, Craig Breen, Bryan Bouffier, Kevin Abbring, Stéphane Lefebvre…

Sur ces 20 dernières années, Freddy Loix a quasiment gagné une édition sur deux du Rallye d’Ypres. Cette année, il vise une 10^e victoire au volant de la nouvelle Skoda Fabia R5/Michelin dont il a contribué au développement. Le constructeur tchèque reste sur cinq succès d’affilée et entend bien rester maître en Flandre avec sa nouvelle arme lancée récemment en WRC.

Malgré toute son expérience et le potentiel de sa nouvelle monture, Freddy Loix devra affronter une concurrence redoutable ce week-end, qu’elle soit belge ou européenne. Le leader du championnat Craig Breen a signé trois victoires consécutives au volant de la Peugeot 208 T16 engagée par la Peugeot Rally Academy, et, en l’absence de Kajetanowicz, espère bien faire le trou au championnat. Egalement sur une Peugeot 208 T16, Bryan Bouffier connaît bien le parcours d’Ypres et sa pointe de vitesse sur asphalte n’est plus à prouver.

Les pilotes du Mondial Kevin Abbring (DS3 R5) et Stéphane Lefebvre (208 T16) effectueront un détour à Ypres en route vers la Pologne où ils disputeront le Rally Poland le week-end suivant. A suivre également les frères Moffett, le Portugais Bruno Magalhaes ou encore Robert Consani.

La concurrence viendra également du côté belge avec Bernd Casier (Citroën DS3 R5), Davy Vanneste (Ford Fiesta R5), Kris Princen (Peugeot 208 T16), Claudie Tanghe (Peugeot 207 S2000), Cédric Cherain (Citroën DS3 R5) tous équipés pour la gagne.

N’oublions pas les quatre mousquetaires Porschistes (François Delecour, Romain Dumas, Marc Duez, Patrick Snijers) qui, si la météo le permet, pourraient tirer bénéfice de la puissance du Flat-6 pour jouer parmi les R5. La catégorie Junior sera elle aussi bien représentée avec Chris Ingram, Emil Bergqvist, Marijan Griebel, Diogo Gago, Vasily Gryazin, et Gino Bux qui jouera à domicile.

Le parcours de cette 51^e édition est encore plus concentré et rythmé que les années précédentes. En 28 heures, les concurrents vont disputer 17 spéciales et parcourir 253,38 km chronométrés ! Au programme, les incontournables Langemark, Hollebeke, Kemmelberg, Dikkebus, Westouter, Mesen, Watou, se chargeront d’écrémer les rangs… Le Rallye d’Ypres est l’un des plus atypiques et piégeux du championnat avec ses spéciales rapides, étroites, sales et glissantes.

Malgré des prévisions météo optimistes, il va forcément pleuvoir à un moment ou à un autre. Pour parer à toutes les conditions, les pilotes Michelin disposeront de toute la gamme rallye « Compétition-Clients », à savoir R01 (extra soft), R11 (soft), R21 (medium) et R31 (hard).

La Qualifying Stage, qui déterminera l’ordre des départs du vendredi, se tiendra à Nieuwkerke jeudi soir. Les pilotes choisiront leur position vendredi à 13h00, avant le départ du rallye sur la Grote Markt d’Ypres à 16h15. Arrivée même lieu, samedi à 22h00.

 

 

The former Flemish cloth-trading city of Ypres is the host of the 2015 FIA European Rally Championship’s fifth round. The event’s glittering entry includes Freddy Loix, Craig Breen, Bryan Bouffier, Kevin Abbring and Stéphane Lefebvre.

Over the past two decades, Freddy Loix has practically won one Ypres Rally in two. This time, he is targeting a tenth success in the new Skoda Fabia R5/Michelin which he helped to develop. The Czech make has won the last five events and intends to remain the Flemish master with its latest challenger which recently made its WRC debut.

Loix faces stiff opposition from a number of Belgian and European rivals like the provisional ERC leader Craig Breen. After winning the last three rounds of the Euro series in his Peugeot Rally Academy 208 T16, the Irishman will be out to take advantage of Kajetanowicz’s absence to extend his points cushion. Another Peugeot 208 T16 runner will be asphalt expert Bryan Bouffier who has good knowledge of the Ypres stages.

WRC regulars Kevin Abbring (DS3 R5) and Stéphane Lefebvre (208 T16) will also stopover in Belgian en route to the following weekend’s Rally Poland (WRC). Other top international entries include the Moffett brothers, Portugal’s Bruno Magalhaes and Frenchman Robert Consani.

The locals can’t be underestimated, either, with drivers like Bernd Casier (Citroën DS3 R5), Davy Vanneste (Ford Fiesta R5), Kris Princen (Peugeot 208 T16), Claudie Tanghe (Peugeot 207 S2000) and Cédric Cherain (Citroën DS3 R5) all in with a shout.

Spectators will no doubt appreciate the presence of François Delecour, Romain Dumas, Marc Duez and Patrick Snijers whose Porsches could be a match for the R5 runners in dry weather. Last but not least, the Junior contest will feature the likes of Chris Ingram, Emil Bergqvist, Marijan Griebel, Diogo Gago, Vasily Gryazin and Belgium’s Gino Bux.

This year’s route is more compact compared with recent years, and the pace will be faster, too, since the 17 stages totalling 253.38km will be packed into a period of just 28 hours! The menu includes fast, narrow and dirty classics like Langemark, Hollebeke, Kemmelberg, Dikkebus, Westouter, Mesen and Watou which collectively make the Ypres Rally one of the championship’s most specific and taxing events.

The weather forecast is good, but there is usually rain at some point and the Michelin runners will be able to count on the French firm’s R01 (extra soft), R11 (soft), R21 (medium) and R31 (hard) tyres.

The Qualifying Stage that will determine Friday’s start order will take place near Nieuwkerke on Thursday evening. The rally itself will start from Ypres’ Grote Markt at 4:14pm Friday and end at the same place on Saturday at 10pm.