Back in 2011, my book, Porsche at Le Mans: Sixty Years of Porsche Participation In The Greatest Motor Race, was published, and it quickly sold out. Porsche at Le Mans was short-listed as a finalist in the British Motorsports Book of the Year awards at a ceremony in London. So when I was asked by Motorbooks International (Quarto Knows) to update this to 'Porsche at Le Mans 70 … [Read more...]
Ferrari 512 S/M, the Porsche 917 challenger
Enzo Ferrari was probably quite annoyed with himself that he misjudged Porsche’s 917 entry into Group 4 racing (as it was in 1969), and so a plan was hastily put in place to remedy this. The result was an intoxicating recipe for one of the greatest showdowns in motor racing. History reveals that while this clash of the titans did not quite materialise as hoped for, the Ferrari … [Read more...]
Toyota Gazoo Racing – 2017 WEC Plans
So near…and yet so far, is the story of Toyota Gazoo Racing’s record at Le Mans. The world watched in stunned silence when in 2016 the #5 Toyota TS050 Hybrid rolled to a stop on the penultimate lap of the race. Having the title of the world’s toughest endurance race snatched from your grasp with the finish line in sight was the cruellest outcome for a team who had worked so … [Read more...]
FCA (Fiat Chrysler Alfa) Driving Event Cardiff
We had enjoyed good weather for much of the week leading up to the Fiat Chrysler Alfa driving event in Cardiff in late January but it was all about to change. A selection of 13 cars, Jeep, Fiat and Alfa, were lined up in front of the St. David’s Hotel, Cardiff, ready to be put through their paces. Because of weather conditions and early fading light, we only got a couple of … [Read more...]
Fiat 124 Sport Spider
The Fiat 124 Sport Spider was an attractive front-engine, rear drive 2+2 convertible sports car, manufactured by FIAT between 1966-1982 and by Pininfarina between 1983-1985. The Fiat 124 Sport Spider was designed initially by Pininfarina’s Tom Tjaarda, and debuted at the Turin Auto Show in November 1966. The 124 Sport Spider replaced the 1500S Cabriolet which had proved a … [Read more...]
Fiat 500
Remembered with fondness by those who were there when it was launched in 1957, the original Fiat 500 is today adored by most who see her. The little rear-engined two-door car could accommodate four people and is widely regarded as the first proper city car and was initially powered by a 479cc two-cylinder air-cooled engine. Launched as the Nuova 500, no less than … [Read more...]
Jaguar E-type Restoration – Part 2
Even completely stripped bare in a workshop at Spotless Automotive Restorers in Knysna, the allure of Stuart Lottering’s E-type was evident. Francois Bonthuys takes us through the meticulous stripping process by highlighting key findings and outlines the road ahead during this Jaguar E-type restoration. Desire at first glance Upon arrival, the Jag E-type did not have any … [Read more...]
Cobra-Ferrari Wars 1963-1965
This is the second edition of the well-known and much loved book by Michael L Shoen. The Cobra-Ferrari Wars: 1963-1965, is the account of the battles, both on track and off, that raged between two great names, that of the established marque of Ferrari and the newcomer Cobra. Enzo Ferrari had made his name and his reputation the hard way, during the tough years just prior to … [Read more...]
Guild of Motoring Writers Annual Awards 2016
Every year, members of the Guild of Motoring Writers (GoMW) submit work to the Committee of this organisation, for consideration in the Annual Awards. The Guild was formed in 1944 and today boasts 400 members who specialise in all aspects of the media in the motor and motorsport industries, such as journalism, photography, video and broadcasting. The annual dinner and awards … [Read more...]
London to Brighton Veteran Car Run
The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run (LBVCR) took place on the first Sunday of November commemorating the Emancipation Run of 14 November 1896 which celebrated the passing into law of the Locomotives on the Highway Act. This Act raised the speed limit for ‘light locomotives’ from 4mph to 14mph and abolished the requirement for these vehicles to be preceded by a man on … [Read more...]
Looking back at Bahrain
I arrived in Bahrain for the last race of the season with two certainties in my mind, Audi were withdrawing from endurance racing and Mark Webber was retiring. Less certain was that Romain Dumas, Neel Jani and Marc Lieb would become World Champions. Looking back at Bahrain, everything else was in the lap of the WEC. Arriving at the circuit for the second time, it still … [Read more...]
6h of Bahrain – Last round gentlemen
As the leaves and the temperatures start to fall at VMP Towers, thoughts go to the warmth of the Bahraini welcome which awaits the FIA WEC family as we gather in the desert to watch the 6h of Bahrain, 2016 season finale. So, without further ado, it's ‘last round gentlemen’ as windscreens get polished, tyres checked and mirrors adjusted for that last blast in the desert at the … [Read more...]
An E-type named Desire Part 1
Before the E-type Jaguar, sleek was just something you did with your hair. And class was something you had to attend to learn English and maths. It took some time running the alphabet before the emergence of this gem in all its ruby-coloured glory. This is the story about an E-type named Desire. With its slick design, concupiscent curves and seductively beckoning headlights, … [Read more...]
If the Audi withdrawal was a splash
If the Audi withdrawal was a splash…there’s a Tsunami coming Much has been written of the future of the six Audi WEC drivers after the announcement by Audi to withdraw from WEC at the end of the 2016 season, less so though about the fate of the army of dedicated technicians and support infrastructure. The decision by Audi to withdraw from the WEC has in effect … [Read more...]
Audi withdraws from WEC
In what has been billed as a realigning of its motorsport strategy, Audi will terminate its FIA WEC commitment, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, at the end of the 2016 season. Instead Audi is taking up a factory-backed commitment in the all-electric Formula E racing series. Chairman of the Board of Management, Rupert Stadler, announced to the Audi race department staff … [Read more...]