VIDEO: MSE Ford Fiesta ST Rallycross Urban Hoon

OK, so Ken Block's got the monopoly on this, but still, here's a fabulous film of the MSE Fod Fiesta St rallycross car hooning around Detroit, the USA home of motors. Enjoy!

NEWS: Nismo and Williams Performance Car Program

Nismo, the performance orientated brand of Nissan responsible for cars like the 370Z Nismo (above) and Williams Advanced Engineering, a division of the Williams Group, today announced an agreement to collaborate on the development of high performance road cars – and that's got to be good news, right? Two killer brands building road cars. Yes! Think Subaru and STi, Mitsubishi and Ralliart, Mercedes and AMG etc. Good news.
Using their specialist expertise of aerodynamics, simulation and material science, Williams Advanced Engineering will join the engineering development team from Nismo currently working on developing future Nismo products for launch worldwide from 2014 and beyond.
Commenting on the news, Shoichi Miyatani, president of Nismo said: "Nismo is a brand built from over 30 years of racing experience and so it is fitting that we chose to work with a like-minded company such as Williams to develop the higher performance versions of our products. Williams have a proven history of making racing technology benefit road cars, and we look forward to starting this relationship during such a period of intensive product development for Nismo."
Sir Frank Williams, Founder and Team Principal added: "Williams Advanced Engineering has a history of developing world class, high performance products and this agreement is particularly exciting because of the ambition and potential of the Nismo brand. Both parties share a passion for racing and cutting edge technology and this collaboration will see us work closely together to develop cars that will be at the forefront of automotive technology."
Nismo is already well-known to motorsports and performance car enthusiasts in Japan and to millions of global gaming enthusiasts. Now, Nismo is poised for accelerated global impact, enhancing Nissan's reputation for innovation and excitement with a new line-up of sporty Nissan road cars. The GT-R Nismo will be the third Nismo-badged model following the launch of the Juke Nismo and 370Z Nismo this year.
In February this year, Nismo kicked off the start of a new era in its development as a global performance brand with the official opening of a new global headquarters in Yokohama, Japan. Nissan is promising a rapid pace of introduction of even more Nismo models, at least one model every year during the Nissan Power88 period, encompassing the breadth of the Nissan road car range.
Looking forward to seeing what they plan to deliver and you can hear about it all here. See more images here.

About Nismo

• Nismo, a short form of “Nissan Motorsports”, is the performance brand for Nissan, and is one of the company's purveyors of innovation and excitement.
• Nismo offers products featuring innovative technology and high performance to a wide range of customers for street use. Nismo cars provide exciting driving experiences with motorsports-inspired aerodynamics and styling, enhanced handling characteristics and unmatched agility.
• In the motorsports world, Nismo competes in the highest forms of GT and sports-car racing, such as Japan's Super GT Series and the World Endurance Championships (WEC), as well as providing engines to teams that compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the European Le Mans Series (ELMS). In 2012, the Nissan GT-R captured the Super GT championship for the second straight year.

About Nissan Motor Co., Ltd
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan's second-largest automotive company, is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, and is part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with more than 267,000 employees globally, Nissan sold more than 4.9 million vehicles and generated revenue of 9.6 trillion yen (USD 116.16 billion) in fiscal 2012. Nissan delivers a comprehensive range of over 60 models under the Nissan and Infiniti brands. In 2010, Nissan introduced the Nissan LEAF, and continues to lead in zero emission mobility. The LEAF, the first mass-market, pure-electric vehicle launched globally, is now the best-selling EV in history.
For more information on our products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit our website at; http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/

About Williams Advanced Engineering
Williams Advanced Engineering is the division of Williams that takes cutting edge technology and know-how originally developed for Formula One and adapts it for a wide range of commercial applications.
This includes the design and manufacture of high performance vehicles, the development of battery and flywheel energy storage systems, commercial applications of Williams’ motorsport simulation technology, and engineering consulting and systems integration services. Based at the Williams factory in Grove, Oxfordshire and the Williams Technology Centre in Qatar, Williams Advanced Engineering brings the best of Formula One technology to the wider world.

VIDEO: Pat Doran Pikes Peak Off 2013

Pat Doran's 925bhp RS200 Pikes Peak proves to be a bit of a handful in qualification yesterday. Ouch! Thank God it happened in the trees, not up the top. The cars are Q-U-I-C-K this year. SO quick!

NEWS: At Last: WRC Terrestrial ITV4 Deal & Extra Wales Rally GB Shows!

Thank God... TV media moguls have finally agreed to screen the FIA World Rally Championship to UK audiences on free-to-air terrestrial television – namely ITV4 and ITV4 HD – for the remainder of 2013! Hooray! Not only that... for our home event of Wales Rally GB two additional 30-minute highlight programmes will be broadcast on Friday and Saturday evenings during the event. Double hooray!
Naturally, the news has been enthusiastically welcomed by International Motor Sports Limited, organiser of Wales Rally GB (14-17 November), Britain’s concluding round of the 2013 WRC – with its new-look route, North Wales base and the welcome return of night stages for the hardcore rally fans and more family-friendly town spectator stages.
Following an agreement between WRC Promoter GmbH, the WRC’s new commercial rights holder, and leading UK television network ITV all remaining rounds of the globe-trotting WRC will be broadcast on both ITV4 and ITV4 HD channels. The coverage actually started several months ago but only now has the programming for the full season – including additional airtime for Wales Rally GB – been confirmed.
Highlights from all remaining rounds of the 2013 FIA World Rally Championship will be featured in a series of action-packed, stand-alone, one-hour programmes and will be transmitted in the week following each WRC round. And these programmes also will be available for subsequent repeat viewing as well as for additional exposure on mobile devices via the ITV.com website and ITV Player.
"This is fantastic news for the vast numbers of hard-core rally fans here in the UK as well as for a much wider television audience seeking some truly breath-taking entertainment," enthused Andrew Coe, Chief Executive of IMS. "Top class rallying is one of the world’s most spectacular sports and now UK viewers can follow all the thrilling action as the WRC travels around the globe en route to what’s going to be a fitting finale right here in the legendary Welsh forests. With its strong reputation for screening world-class sports such as the Champions League and the Tour de France, ITV4 is the perfect broadcaster for WRC. More importantly perhaps, these very welcome programmes will not only provide UK rally enthusiasts with free-to-air WRC coverage for the first time in five years but also help to introduce an all-new generation of thrill-seeking fans to what’s possibly the most stunning form of motor sport."
Reverting its traditional end-of-season date, Wales Rally GB is the grand finale to this year’s 13-round WRC which commenced with the classic Monte Carlo Rally in January.
For the latest updates, directions and stage information, follow Wales Rally GB on Twitter @walesrallygb, join the conversations on Facebook at www.facebook.com/walesrallygb  or visit the website www.walesrallygb.com

Photo credit: www.worldrallypics.com.

NEWS: Road Magazine N24 Special Is Printed!!!

Massive thanks to our pals and cordial N24 hosts, Falken Tyres, who have just printed Road Magazine for the first time since its birth in 2008. And it looks fantastic! Falken were so pleased with the expert coverage and cutting edge design we did in our N24 special, they contacted us to get it printed to distribute at this weekend's VLN race – the first since their superb and best ever N24 result of P20, as covered in the latest N24 special of Road which you can read FREE here.
If you're lucky enough to be at the VLN's Adenauer ADAC Simfy Trophy this weekend, go check out Team Falken's amazing GT3 R and pick up a FREE printed copy of Road Magazine. Happy days!
See more Falken images on our Facebook page.

NEWS: £200K, 183mph Aston Martin Vanquish Volante Launched

Aston Martin is on a roll and it just keeps on getting more exclusive – as they unveil their topless Vanquish Volante, the first to feature a full carbon fibre body, loaded with a 570bhp 6.0-litre V12 engine offering 0-62 mph in about 4.0-seconds and with a multi-layer lightweight fabric roof capable of folding flat in just 14 seconds. Oh, and did I mention the price? £199,995 RRP in the UK, €264,995 RRP in Germany, $297,995 MSRP in the United States and $323,974 RRP in Dubai. But they claim the Vanquish Volante is "a stunning new luxury sports car that brings the thrill of open top motoring to the super GT class... and sits at the pinnacle of our sports car line-up."They say: "Benefitting from all of the technical, engineering and design advances present in the Vanquish coupe launched last year, the new Volante enhances the driving experience still further through the option of exciting convertible driving. The Vanquish Volante crucially retains the coupe’s dynamic character and sporting capability. It boasts the same new AM11 6.0-litre V12 engine as the coupe and the same blistering performance figures, meaning the 0-62 mph sprint is despatched in just 4.1 seconds (estimated) while the top speed stands at 183 mph."
Vanquish Volante is the first fully carbon fibre-skinned Volante in the brand’s 100-year history, while also being the stiffest Volante body structure yet created by the engineering team at Aston Martin’s global HQ in Gaydon, Warwickshire, England. The new car’s triple-skin lightweight fabric roof takes just 14 seconds to fold.
Announcing the arrival of the Vanquish Volante Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez said: "This car is what luxury super GT driving is all about. Great performance, fantastic style and exhilarating Volante motoring in one superb package. Aston Martin is celebrating 100 years of excellence in 2013, and the arrival of this new sports car – our ultimate Volante – underlines that our mission to make the next 100 years even more successful is starting perfectly."
The design of Vanquish Volante represents the latest take on Aston Martin’s iconic visual language. Styling cues such as the elegant waist, elongated side strakes and LED rear light blades are derived from the One-77 supercar while the folding fabric roof sits beneath a tonneau and decklid that have been aerodynamically tuned for optimum performance.
The windscreen, meanwhile, is now full height – a first for Aston Martin – which means that the glass runs up to meet the fabric roof, thereby achieving a particularly clean transition.
The Vanquish Volante’s ‘suit’ of carbon fibre panels cloaks a cabin that is both sophisticated and comfortable. The 2+2 cabin is elegantly attired in authentic and luxurious materials: full grain Luxmil leather with optional quilting, metal controls and satin chrome trim underscore the car’s well-appointed nature.
Each body panel on the car is constructed from carbon fibre not just because of its high strength-to-weight ratio, but also for its flexibility of form. This not only reduces mass but means that fewer individual body panels are required – reducing joints and contributing to a more coherent and svelte shape.
As practical as it is well-dressed, the Vanquish Volante boasts a boot that’s fully 50% larger than that of the previous DBS Volante. It measures 279 litres – roof up or down – and makes the new Aston Martin the perfect choice for continent-crossing grand tours as well as daily drives.
Perhaps one of the most striking interior design elements is the centre stack with refinements providing a more elegant form that is also more intuitive and accessible for both driver and front seat passenger.
A direct descendent of the One-77 centre stack, the Vanquish and Vanquish Volante’s set-up retains familiar elements such as the ECU engine start button and glass gear selection buttons while featuring a new infotainment system and a significantly more user-friendly design.
The facia trim now stretches down the whole centre stack and is manufactured from a single piece of material giving a uniform finish.
The user interface boasts a simple, ergonomically efficient layout as well as technological updates that make it the brand’s most advanced in-car system available today.
Capacitive glass buttons with illumination and haptic feedback feature in the rest of the centre stack’s switchgear. Haptic feedback is more commonly found in touch-screen mobile phones and Aston Martin was among the first significant luxury car manufacturers in the world to use the technology in a series production model when it debuted on Vanquish coupe in 2012.
Aston Martin Design Director Marek Reichman explained: "Vanquish Volante is a sports car, of course, but more even than that it is the ultimate Volante. A car which follows a long line of elegant Aston Martin convertibles, this super GT is sculpted to convey sophistication as much as raw power.
“The aerodynamically shaped tonneau, the proportions of the folding fabric roof, the luxurious nature of the cabin – these elements have been pored over by the Design team, working with our Engineering colleagues, to ensure we deliver the aesthetic appeal for which Aston Martin is renowned around the world."
Under its curvaceous carbon fibre bonnet the Vanquish Volante comprises the latest generation AM11 naturally aspirated 6.0-litre V12 petrol engine which drives the rear wheels via a Touchtronic 2 six-speed automatic gearbox.
The V12’s power peak of 573 PS (565 bhp) arrives at 6,750 rpm while the torque peak of 620 Nm (457 lb ft) is available at 5,500 rpm. These numbers translate into performance that matches the Vanquish coupe’s and ensures the new car supports its Super GT billing.    
The dynamics have been tuned precisely, with new springs and damper settings calibrated to deliver the same crisp handling yet compliant ride as the coupe.
Strenuous efforts have been made to limit the new car’s weight; contributing to its impressive performance, agile handling and compelling power-to-weight ratio. The combination of controlled weight, near-perfect 51:49 weight distribution, a powerful V12 engine and a performance-honed six-speed transmission unite to make the Vanquish Volante as rewarding on the move as it is beautiful standing still.
Like its coupe counterpart, the Vanquish Volante uses the latest generation of Aston Martin’s class-leading VH (Vertical Horizontal) architecture, a lightweight bonded aluminium structure that provides outstanding strength and rigidity. In this iteration, the Vanquish now includes the addition of significant semi-structural carbon fibre components, as well as the use of bonding derived directly from the latest aerospace technologies.
As well as being light, strong and flexible in its application, the gen4 VH architecture is also extremely rigid. The new Vanquish Volante is, in fact, 14% torsionally stiffer than the DBS Volante which preceded it, making it highly resistant to flex and allowing for responsive and predictable handling.
This rigid structure also provides an ideal foundation from which the suspension can control the vehicle effectively, further highlighting the importance of the body structure and the effect it has on the dynamic performance of the car.
Aston Martin’s engineering teams have worked particularly hard to minimise the weight outside the wheelbase of the new car to reduce yaw inertia. As a result, carbon fibre has been used extensively in the rear structure and the weight of the aluminium front structure has been limited.
To take full advantage of its precise and rigid architecture, the Vanquish Volante employs a battery of sophisticated technologies including Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and Positive Torque Control (PTC).
Aston Martin’s Adaptive Damping System (ADS) allows the driver to switch between three distinct damping modes: Normal, Sport and Track, delivering instant adjustment of the car’s ride and handling characteristics.
The ADS automatically alters the suspension settings to ensure the driver has high levels of control at all times, with the ability to respond quickly to different driving conditions. The different damping modes available help significantly broaden the Vanquish Volante’s character, adapting its set-up to suit the driver’s mood and requirements. Thus it can be a cruising GT car in Normal mode with the capacity to morph into an assertive sports car in Sport and Track modes.
The damper settings are determined by an electronic control unit which takes sensor readings from the car’s systems including throttle position, brake position, steering wheel rotation and vehicle speed. This data establishes the prevailing driving conditions and the demands the driver is making on the car.
Steering, too, is crisp, precise and communicative. The rack’s quick 15:1 ratio – 2.6 turns lock-to-lock – is allied to speed-sensitive power assistance that’s tuned to deliver optimum assistance. 
The car’s braking system features third generation Brembo Carbon Ceramic Matrix (CCM) parts to deliver shorter stopping distances with resistance to fade in even the most demanding driving conditions. CCM brakes are also lighter than a conventional system, reducing the weight of the car overall and, in particular, the unsprung weight and rotational masses, further enhancing the performance of the suspension.
The front brakes use 398 mm x 36 mm CCM discs with larger front pads and six-piston callipers from the One-77, while the rear brakes use 360 mm x 32 mm CCM discs with four-piston callipers.
Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez added: "Vanquish Volante, like the Vanquish coupe before it, uses the very latest technologies employed in the very best ways to create a sports car which is easy to control, and to enjoy dynamic performance at the finest level. This is not simply a great-looking car – this is a great car engineered and crafted for the connoisseur by people dedicated to delivering exceptional sports cars with clearly defined characters."
See 20+ images of the new killer cabriolet here.

NEWS: Audi Motorsport Le Mans Update

Audi Motorsport drivers are aiming high for the 81st Le Mans endurance 24-Hour this weekend in a fleet of Audi R18 e-tron Quattro hybrid diesels – with Brit Allan McNish aiming for a third win on the event and fellow Briton, Oliver Jarvis aiming for a maiden victory in the legendary endurance classic on the famous Circuit de la Sarthe.
McNish is also aiming to take the lead in the FIA World Endurance Championship with a victory at Le Mans – a race he won in 1998 & 2008. McNish shares his Audi R18 e-tron quattro with eight-time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen (Denmark) and Loïc Duval (France) aiming to earn Audi a 12^th Le Mans victory.
The 2013 Le Mans is the third round of the FIA World Endurance Championship, with Audi Motorsport drivers McNish/Kristensen/Duval having finished first at Silverstone and second at Spa, leaving the trio trailing Audi team-mates and 2011 & ’12 Le Mans winners, Marcel Fässler (CH)/André Lotterer (D)/Benoît Tréluyer (F), by a mere one point.
With 50-points on offer to the Le Mans winning drivers in the eight-race WEC which concludes in Bahrain (November), McNish has a double incentive for more Le Mans glory.
McNish said: "Le Mans has been and always will be, the biggest and most important sportscar race in the world. For people not that interested in motor racing, most will have heard of the Monaco Grand Prix in Formula One, the Indianapolis 500 in the States and Le Mans.
"Le Mans has its own character, its own unique feel – it’s like soccer’s World Cup Final but for motorsport. When the fans start to arrive, the roads and car parks are invariably lined with British registered cars – it is a big event not only for British drivers but our country as a whole. The motorsport community basically congregates there for half the month of June.
"As Le Mans is the biggest race of the year, it’s therefore the one as a driver you most want to win. Standing on the winners’ podium, even if it is for second or third position, is a huge achievement. I’ve stood up there eight times, twice on the very top step, and I want to be up there again this year.
"But Le Mans nowadays is also part of the FIA World Endurance Championship and unlike the other seven races, it earns double points. So a non-finish effectively ends your championship title dream. However, a victory would be a huge benefit to my championship campaign. So it’s a delicate balance between pushing and conservation but I’m a racing driver and so push hard all of the time. Tom, Loïc and I have a clear objective and that’s to go out and win the 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours.
"This year’s race is my 14^th Le Mans 24 Hours and from a physical point of view, I don’t find it that difficult. Like all of the Audi Sport drivers, I train very hard and am totally prepared in this respect.
"The Audi Sport team, its designers and engineers, have been focussing on this race since the day after Audi scored a 1-2-3 in last year’s race! The intensity builds months beforehand to make sure all the parts are prepared. We’ve completed endurance testing and tyre testing, specifically for Le Mans, so lots has gone into our preparations before we arrive at the beginning of race week.
"Emotionally it is a tough week. I’ll arrive in Le Mans on Sunday (16 Jun). Drivers’ sign-on at scrutineering the following day where officials also check over the Audi R18 e-tron quattro to ensure it meets the necessary regulations. Qualifying finishes at midnight on Wednesday and Thursday nights. We will have almost 30 separate meetings before the race begins on Saturday afternoon. Additionally there is a lot of press and PR to undertake with over 1,500 media present.
"There are certain procedures we practice plus driver change training that are repeated over and over again before the race, so there is no real ‘down’ time where you take a breath. So when the race does actually begin, a lot of energy has already been sapped. But the adrenaline pumps and emotions are high. The entire team has to totally concentrate for 24hours so that everything is done perfectly.
"There is absolutely no point in the race where anyone can relax and emotionally I find that more draining than the physical side. It is a race like no other. But it can also be one of the sweet points, standing on the podium, relishing the excitement, the enjoyment, the champagne and for that matter, the relief.
"The opening two WEC races have gone very well with Tom, Loïc and I winning the first race in dramatic style at Silverstone then finishing second at Spa. In terms of Audi, it was a 1-2 at Silverstone and a 1-2-3 at Spa so it’s been a great way to kick off the 2013 campaign.
"This year’s Le Mans will be the first since 2006 that I haven’t co-driven with Dindo Capello who has now retired from sports-prototype racing.
"Loïc has joined Tom and I in our car this season as a full time member and has fitted in very well. He’s got a different way of working and attitude than Dindo but only in so much that he’s a different character.
"Tom and I like his style and speed. I’m certain that this relationship will be a strong one that will develop."
Meanwhile fellow Briton Oliver Jarvis starts the race hopeful that his third attempt will earn him a maiden victory in the legendary French race. The 29-year-old from Burwell near Newmarket shares his R18 e-tron quattro with ex-Formula One drivers Marc Gené (Spain) and Lucas di Grassi (Brazil).
Jarvis made his Le Mans debut for the Audi “customer” Kolles team in 2010 but recorded an excellent third place for the “factory Audi team in last year’s race.
Again part of the “factory” Audi squad, Jarvis races the hybrid-diesel Audi for the first time at Le Mans – the third time in 2013 after a win (Sebring) and third (Spa) – in what is undoubtedly Jarvis’s biggest race of the season.
Jarvis commented: "Le Mans is the big one. It’s the race everybody wants to win and every driver wants on his CV. Since first attending the race as a spectator in 2008, I fell in love with it.
"I competed for the first time in 2010 for the Kolles Audi team and went there last year, as part of the Audi Sport ‘works’ squad for the first time, and finished on the podium which was unbelievable.
"This year, I am heading to the race better prepared and more motivated than ever. To put into words the mix of emotions you feel is very difficult. The race is like no other in terms of atmosphere, excitement, mental and physical stresses and the fact that we’re at Le Mans for over a week before the race starts!
"Audi Sport has been preparing for this race for a year – since it scored its 11^th victory there last year essentially - an entire year for just one 24 hour race. The moment you arrive at the race track, you instantly feel the magic that exists.
"As the spectators start to arrive, you feel the atmosphere building, but with that, you also feel the tension as race day draws closer. During the race itself you feel a mix of emotions that can change in a split second.
"You can go from despair one second, to joy the next. That’s what makes Le Mans special and to win it would be a dream come true."
Audi has optimised the R18 e-tron quattro for 2013: The output of the electric motors have been increased to more than 80 kilowatts delivering around 200hp transmitted through its front axle above 75mph at seven specific “zones” around the 8.47-mile Le Mans track using power “harvested” under braking. An air restrictor limits the 3.7-litre, V6 TDI engine to deliver approximately 490hp while the minimum weight is 915kg. The bodywork features numerous refined details compared to last year’s WEC & Le Mans winning R18 e-tron quattro. The organising FIA Endurance Committee recently made “Balance of Performance” adjustments. While the fuel tank capacity of the hybrid-diesel Audi remains at 58-litres (12.76 gallons), the hybrid-petrol Toyota has had its tank capacity increased to 76-litres (16.72gal). Audi Sport Team Joest enters a three-car “works” team bidding for a 12^th Le Mans victory since the German manufacturer made its debut in the legendary French race in 1999.

Race Week Timetable
Wednesday 19 June
16:00-20:00 Practice
22:00-24:00 Qualifying 1
Thursday 20 June
19:00-21:00 Qualifying 2
22:00-24:00 Qualifying 3
Friday 21 June
1400 Audi Press Conference, Audi Racing Arena, Parc du Raccordement
17:00-19:00 Drivers' Parade (City centre)
Saturday 22 June
09.00-09:45 Warm-Up
14:22 Beginning of starting procedure 24 Heures du Mans
15:00 Start of the 81^st race of the 24 Heures du Mans ®

See more images here.

VIDEO: Unreal Course Record Blitz by Radical @ 2013 Cholmondeley Pageant of Power

Jees! This is an epic, heroic run up the frightening and crash-tastic 1.2-mile Cholmondeley Pageant of Power sprint course – with Robbie Kerr smashing the course record with a blistering time of 55.29s during the last run of the 2013 event. Robbie set the record in a road-legal Radical SR8 RX despite having never driven the car or the course before, in a wild display of driving bravery and skill. Check it out! And to find out more about the Radical SR8 RX visit www.radicalsportscars.comAnd see our image gallery from the event on our Facebook page.

VIDEO: Awesome Falken Tyres Nürburgring 24-Hour Movie

Our pals at Falken Tyres were great hosts for us at the 2013 41st ADAC Zurich Nürburgring 24-Hours, and led the race in their Porsche 911 GT3 R for a while this year – their 14th ever N24 event. Set aside half an hour to watch this superbly produced video of the event. And read the full behind-the-scenes story in our FREE N24 special of Road Magazine here.

NEWS: Wales Rally GB "Village" Success @ Cholmondeley Pageant of Power

Wales Rally GB's "village" – rammed with amazing WRC and BRC stars and cars – at last weekend's Cholmondeley Pageant of Power proved a huge success with the crowds.
The event gave rally fans "a taste of the excitement to come in North Wales on 14-17 November, at Wales Rally GB" – and details of the new course in North Wales and the lower ticket pricing.
Taking centre stage, was Colin McRae’s 1996 WRC Subaru Impreza (which we have featured in this issue of Road Magazine) and his 1999 Safari-winning Ford Focus. During his hugely successful career, McRae's outstanding performance whilst at the Subaru World Rally Team enabled the outfit to win the World Rally Championship (WRC) Constructors' title three times in succession in 1995, 1996 and 1997.
Also on display in the Wales Rally GB Village was Jari-Matti Latvala’s 2010 Ford Focus, in which he finished on the podium in Wales Rally GB that year, a newly launched 2013 Ford Fiesta R5 from M-Sport, and over 20 iconic Group B cars.
Fans at the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power wanting to take in the thrills of rallying from watching the on-track action, were treated to a Wales Rally GB demonstration on the 1.2 mile course on each day of the event. The driver line-up included Elfyn Evans, winner of the 2012 FIA WRC Academy (the one-make feeder series to the WRC) and British Rally Championship (BRC) stars Tom Cave, Benjamyn McKay and Alex Parpottas, all showcasing young British rallying talent.
Andrew Coe, Chief Executive of Wales Rally GB event organiser International Motor Sports, said: “It has been fantastic to see so many attendees at the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power visiting the Wales Rally GB Village. Rallying is such a unique form of motor sport, and one of the most spectacular to watch, which is why we are making every effort to ensure that this year’s Wales Rally GB is both easily accessible and affordable, for everyone.
A Wales Rally GB spokesman said: "This weekend we wanted to bring a slice of the action to all of those located near to North Wales, to truly demonstrate what Wales Rally GB, as the finale and only British round of the 2013 WRC, has to offer. We are continually trying to find ways to engage with our spectators, enabling them to get up close and personal with the current WRC and BRC stars and cars. In addition, we’ve had our new start and finish podium on display this weekend, along with some phenomenal historic rally cars. From the feedback we have already gathered, the Wales Rally GB Village, new to Cholmondeley this year, has been well received."
In less than five months time, Wales Rally GB, totalling 22 timed special stages and 196-miles (316kms) of fiercely fought competition over four-days, will be well underway from its new base in Deeside.
Prices of adult admittance to individual forest stages on the day have been reduced to £15* (from £20 in 2012) while Day Passes have been re-introduced providing multiple stage access for just £33* including the Qualifying Stage at Llandegla on Thursday morning. Moreover all adult tickets include a free programme priced at £7.50. The popular ‘Kids for a Quid’ scheme has been extended providing those aged between 9-15 years old with a four-day ticket giving access to all 22 stages for just £1*.
Those aged eight and under are admitted free. Though included in Day Passes, individual tickets for RallyFest Stages are also available priced at £25* with significant discounts available for families. The price for two adults and two children, for example, is £42* with an extra £1* for each additional child. Full details can be found on the official www.walesrallygb.com websites, now with a dedicated version optimised for mobile phones via www.walesrallygb.com/mobile/home.php.
For further updates follow Wales Rally GB on Twitter @walesrallygb, join the conversations on Facebook at www.facebook.com/walesrallygb or visit the website www.walesrallygb.com

And see our image gallery from the event on our Facebook page.

VIDEO: Alfa Romeo 4C technical Detail Revealed

Alfa Romeo has unveiled more technical information about the awesome new, super-lightweight (895Kg) Alfa 4C – including details of its F1-inspired carbon fibre monocoque (weighing just 65kg). More than 1,000 4C's will be produced at the Alfa Romeo Modena facility, using Maserati manufacturing functions "combining high technology and craftsmanship." And the new breed supercar is set to make its dynamic UK debut at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. Can't wait! Can you? Alfa says: "The ‘compact supercar’ perfectly embodies the Alfa brand with Italian style, sporty performance and engineering excellence offering maximum driving satisfaction in total safety. The captivating coupé with two bucket seats uses technologies and materials derived from the 8C Competizione - carbon, aluminium, rear-wheel drive - and technologies from the latest Alfa Romeo models, but thoroughly developed to enhance the sports appeal of the new car. This is demonstrated by the new 1750 Turbo Petrol engine with direct injection and aluminium block, the sophisticated “ALFA TCT” twin dry clutch transmission and the Alfa D.N.A. selector with the brand-new Race mode." Built in Modena, birthplace of the world's most famous sports cars, the Alfa 4C’s production process integrates Alfa Romeo’s design roles and Maserati’s manufacturing functions with engineering and technological contribution from Italian world-wide leaders in the component industry for high-performance sports cars. To design a car that is both exclusive and achievable for Alfa Romeo fans across the world, the Alfa 4C’s designers focused on lightness and efficiency over greater horsepower, which would have impacted the purchase and maintenance costs. Combining high technology and craftsmanship through an advanced mix of hi-tech materials which combine stiffness and strength but also with reduced weight, the Alfa 4C’s weight to power ratio is less than 4kg/HP with a total dry weight of just 895kg, making 4C one of the lightest cars in the world. Some materials involved in 4C production include: CARBON FIBRE The Alfa 4C uses 10% carbon fibre which represents 25% of the car’s overall volume. Carbon fibre currently offers the best weight/stiffness efficiency. The structural function monocoque, designed by the Alfa Romeo specialised team, makes up the central, load-bearing cell of the chassis yet weighs just 65kg. Joining state-of-the-art Formula 1 inspired manufacturing technology and the manual craftsmanship typical of the Italian artisans, Alfa Romeo is the only brand capable to assure a production of over 1,000 pieces per year. ALUMINIUM Aluminium was used for the roof reinforcement cage and the front and rear frameworks. To reduce weight but increase stiffness, the designers replaced the traditional rectangular strut section with a newly designed section, manufactured using the innovative 'Cobapress' process, which combines fusion and forging under press for a lighter and safer framework. Aluminium in the hybrid-type front brake discs with aluminium bell and cast iron ring gear also reduced weight by up to 2kg per disc, in addition to providing better braking. SMC (SHEET MOULDING COMPOUND) Using SMC (Sheet Moulding Compound), a low-density and high resistance composite material, for the body enabled a 20% weight reduction in comparison to traditional sheet steel. The Alfa Romeo 4C is the first standard production car to achieve such a high percentage of low-density SMC. With a weight of 1.5 g/cm³ this material is decidedly lighter than steel (~7.8 g/cm³) and aluminium (~2.7 g/cm³), besides being more malleable in terms of design it also disperses noise well for acoustic comfort. Low-density SMC also reduces the number of components and operations required together with shorter assembly times, thus lowering production costs. PUR-RIM (INJECTED POLYURETHANE) The PUR-RIM (injected polyurethane) on the bumpers and wings weighs 20% less than steel and is suitable for creating complex design elements, such as the 4C wing, and for keeping an ideal cost/production volume ratio. WINDOWS With the window glass, the overall weight was reduced by a real silhouette-thinning approach: all the window glasses are on average around 10% thinner than those normally fitted on cars, allowing for an average weight reduction of 15%. The windscreen is also only 4 mm thick – difficult to obtain on such thin glass with the car’s particularly aerodynamic shape. QUALITY CONTROL To ensure the utmost quality of each Alfa 4C, the production process takes place in dedicated 4C workshops with the ‘testing’ and ‘finishing’ areas shared with the Maserati production. Every day several sample bodies are checked by a dedicated team on over 400 high precision measurement points to ensure the body is perfect from a geometric and dimensional standpoint. Once the car’s manufacture is complete, every detail is strictly checked by systems: from the climate control system operation to the mechanical component settings and the dynamic behaviour. And each Alfa 4C produced is also road-tested for 40 km by an experienced test-driver – a practice commonly used for the most prestigious supercars – not bad work, if you can get it eh?

NEWS: Lotus Exige S Cabrio Stand @ Le Mans

Lotus heads to Le Mans this week with "its latest and greatest" road-going model – the new £52,900, 1166Kg  Exige S Roadster – taking centre stage on their brand stand, supporting their cars running in the 90th anniversary 24-Heures-du-Mans in LMP1 (Lotus Rebellion Racing) and LMP2 (Team Lotus Praga). 

The Lotus stand will be located in the famous Le Mans Village, and this will be the first public appearance of the new Exige S – "the fastest convertible Lotus ever" – offering 345bhp and 295 lb ft from its supercharged 3.5-litre V6, capable of 0-62mph in just 3.5s and 145mph (only available with six-speed manual, not IPS transmission for now). 

And in addition to the new car  being shown off, and brand signature clothes on sale, two exclusive driver autograph sessions for fans and customers will also be laid on. Details below: 

Wednesday the 19 June
· 2:30pm - 2:45pm
· LMP2 Car #31 - Drivers: Kevin Weeda, James Rossiter, Christophe Bouchut
Thursday the 20 June
· 5:00pm - 5:15pm
· LMP2 Car #32 - Drivers: Thomas Holzer, Dominik Kraihamer, Jan Carouse
Check it out if you're at Le Mans this weekend. 

NEWS: Wales Rally GB In Full: Night stages, great value, family-friendly spectator stages & Welsh classics

Wales Rally GB chiefs say they've laid on a "fitting finale to the 2013 FIA World Rally Championship, with 22 challenging special stages and 196-miles (316Km) in the classic Welsh forests" – including challenging night stages in Snowdonia on Thursday evening – as they have today revealed full details of the 14th-17th November WRC round, now based in North Wales. It's like the good old days (just without Killer Kielder!).  

Making it even more great news, the only UK-WRC event is now supported by a completely revised ticketing structure offering fans even better value and more flexibility (with stage, day and event tickets on sale at lower prices than 2012), not to mention family-friendly spectator stages at Chirk Castle and Kinmel Park, as part of an exciting new 'Rallyfest' venue program aiming to "bring one of the world’s most spectacular sports to a wider, family audience." 

As previously announced, the UK’s concluding round of the FIA World Rally Championship is moving to a new headquarters in Deeside with a spectacular ceremonial start at Conwy Quay on Thursday early evening and the finish in Llandudno on Sunday, following a dramatic final competitive timed section on the Great Orme.
Harking back to "the good old days," the WRC crews face three tricky timed special stages – Gwydyr, Penmachno and Clocaenog – in darkness on Thursday, none of which has featured on the rally route for more than 15 years. Then after an overnight stop in Deeside, Friday sees the crews back on more familiar ground tackling two runs through the Welsh gravel classics of Hafren, Sweet Lamb and Myherin special stages either side of a remote service in Newtown where the public can watch the highly trained technicians preparing the state-of-the-art rally cars for further high speed competition.
Saturday’s stages are set slightly further north closer to Dolgellau starting with two blasts through Gartheiniog and Dyfi forests ­(the latter restored to its full 13.4-miles length for the first time since 1998). A mid-morning regroup in central Machynlleth will provide the public with another great opportunity to see the world’s top rally drivers and cars up close.
The teams then return to Deeside, first via another 13-mile classic Welsh forest stage in Dyfnant and finally taking in the first of two new spectator stages set against the dramatic backdrop of Chirk Castle, which dates back to 1295 and is now in the ownership of the National Trust. Located close to the A5 near Wrexham, Chirk will be easily accessible for spectators from both sides of the border.
Sunday’s itinerary en route to the grand finale on the Great Orme sees second runs through both Dyfnant and Clocaenog forests – the latter being the official Power Stage where extra championship points are awarded – plus a first visit to Penllyn near Bala, another stage making a welcome return, this time for its first inclusion since 1991. The route back to Llandudno also features the second of the reintroduced short spectator stages, this time set in the grounds of Kinmel Park close to the A55 near Abergele in Conwy.
Kinmel Park along with Sweet Lamb on Friday and Chirk Castle on Saturday are designated special RallyFest Stages and all three will provide a package of day-long family entertainment. As well as seeing the WRC stars and cars in action twice, the three RallyFest Stages will include a big screen, catering village, public address commentary, special displays, a Rally Dome, on-stage shows as well as other attractions aimed at providing a full day’s entertainment for all ages.

"A massive amount of work has gone into moving the event to North Wales but we’re confident the final result is both worthy of all these efforts and a fitting finale to this year’s FIA World Rally Championship," said Andrew Coe, Chief Executive of event organiser International Motor Sports. "We have a well positioned new base in Deeside, great start and finishing locations in Conwy and Llandudno plus the re-introduction of a number of legendary Welsh forest stages which will appeal to both competitors and hardcore rally fans. On top of that we have found two exciting new venues at Chirk Castle and Kinmel Park close to major road networks that will, I’m sure, help us to attract a whole new generation of rally followers."

Lower prices!

Prices of adult admittance to individual forest stages on the day have been reduced to £15 (from £20 in 2012) while Day Passes have been re-introduced providing multiple stage access for just £33 including the Qualifying Stage at Llandegla on Thursday morning. Moreover all adult tickets include a free programme priced at £7.50. The popular ‘Kids for a Quid’ scheme has been extended providing those aged between 9-15 years old with a four-day ticket giving access to all 22 stages for just £1. Those aged eight and under are admitted free. Though included in Day Passes, individual tickets for RallyFest Stages are also available priced at £25 with significant discounts available for families. The price for two adults and two children, for example, is £42 with an extra £1 for each additional child. Full details can be found on the official www.walesrallygb.com websites, now with a dedicated version optimised for mobile phones viawww.walesrallygb.com/mobile/home.php.

For further updates follow Wales Rally GB on Twitter @walesrallygb, join the conversations on Facebook at www.facebook.com/walesrallygb or visit the website www.walesrallygb.com.

And look out for our extensive coverage of the new-look event in a Rally GB special of Road Magazine later this year. And of course plenty of video here on the blog, and even more on our social media platforms: Facebook & Twitter.  Can't wait!

VIDEO: Falken Motorsport's Martin Ragginger In-Car GT3 R @ N24

Our pals at Falken Tyres made a few great movies of their N24 campaign, and here is one – featuring some stunning, uber-wet, in-car footage of factory driver, Martin Ragginger in action! It makes the perfect accompaniment to our 50-page, behind the scenes interview with the 911 GT3 R racing team (and others!) from the 41st (and their 14th) ADAC Zurich Nurburgring 24-Hour campaign in the latest issue of Road Magazine, FREE here.

PROJECT S4: Auto Genie Pro Valet

Poor 15-year-old Project S4 has been a bit neglected of late, so we thought we'd give her a Summer treat with a professional valet by the Auto Genie.

Here she was before:

And after:

Read the full, impressive story on our website here.

NEWS: Wales Rally GB Gets Better & Better

More great Rally GB news! First the exciting new North Wales route and now – after six front-runners from the MSA British Rally Championship already gained free entries into Wales Rally GB – a similar partnership has been launched with the British Trial and Rally Drivers Association (BTRDA).
International Motor Sports – organiser of Wales Rally GB – announced the news this week of "an exciting new partnership with the prestigious BTRDA Rally Series as another key component to its far-reaching ‘Road to Wales’ initiative."
They say: "In IMS’s strenuous efforts to ensure the new-look Wales Rally GB (14-17 November) is a fitting finale to both the globe-trotting FIA World Rally Championship and to the busy UK rallying season, every effort is being made to encourage top local crews to maximise their end-of-season opportunity to compete on the illustrious world stage.
"The REIS-Get Connected BTRDA Rally Series is the most popular Championship in the UK with over 260 registered contenders this year, and incorporates selected rounds of the MSA English Rally Championship and Pirelli MSA Welsh Forest Rally Championship within its nine round Series. The crew that captures the premier Gold Star Championship will be rewarded with a free entry into the three-day National Rally (15-17 November) being run alongside Wales Rally GB. What’s more the winners of the BTRDA Rally First Championship – a class for lower cost two-wheel-drive production cars – will receive a free entry into the two-day version of the National Rally (16-17 November), once again running on exactly the same classic Welsh forest stages as Wales Rally GB."
"We are determined to ensure our round of the World Rally Championship sits at the pinnacle of a thriving UK rallying scene," said Andrew Coe, Chief Executive of IMS. "This is one of the few sports where enthusiastic amateurs, as well as budding young stars keen to make a name for themselves, can compete alongside world champions and it should be the one big end-of-season event on which everyone wants to compete. That’s why we are doing everything we can to encourage and assist the cream of UK rallying, whether competing in the BTRDA or British Rally Championships, to be a part of what’s going to be a massive and unmissable Wales Rally GB – hence the provision of these free entries. It will not only be a great experience for the winners but also provide spectators with even more top class action to follow."
BTRDA Championship Coordinator Steve Gregg is thrilled with IMS’s generous proposition. He said: "The British Trials and Rally Drivers Association is delighted to be offered these prizes by the Wales Rally GB organisers. As the largest rally championship in the country, this invitation gives our BTRDA competitors the opportunity and incentive to compete in the UK’s premier event. It will also ensure that the BTRDA maintains its long association with the event having provided a Team Entry for its members on previous rallies.
"The choice of the overall BTRDA Gold Star Champion and the Rally First Champion to receive these prizes also ensures that spectators will have the opportunity to see both the country’s top national driver as well as a Rally First driver from one of the most successful formulae introduced by the BTRDA to encourage and retain competitors into the sport,” continued Gregg.
"Wales Rally GB in all its previous guises was always an event that British competitors, including many who came from the BTRDA Rally Series, had on their ‘must do’ list and we hope this new partnership will encourage more to take up the challenge and support the excellent opportunity the event now provides for British competitors."
This new collaboration between the UK’s round of the FIA World Rally Championship and the BTRDA provides yet more impetus to the well-received ‘Road to Wales’ campaign – a targeted activity promoting Wales Rally GB with special displays at major events such as the renowned Cholmondeley Pageant of Power (14-16 June), Castle Combe’s popular Rallyday (21 September) and selected rounds of the MSA British Rally Championship.
For the latest updates, directions and stage information, follow Wales Rally GB on Twitter @walesrallygb, join the conversations on Facebook at www.facebook.com/walesrallygb  or visit the website www.walesrallygb.com

VIDEO: Falken GT3 R @ N24

Our pals at Sweet Pictures created this ace film following the Falken GT3 R at the N24 this year. Check it out. It makes the perfect accompaniment to our N24 special of Road Magazine, with our behind the scenes tale of the ace Falken Porsche 911 GT3 R, which you can read here. Enjoy all this quality media, 100% FREE and please, don't be greedy, share us with your mates! Cheers.

NEWS: New Skoda Octavia vRS To Debut At Goodwood Festival of Speed 2013

In one of the longest press releases of the year – Skoda has revealed full details of their fastest Octavia vRS to date, which is set to make its world debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on July 10th.
Let us precis the headline facts... deep breaths everyone! 

They say it's "the perfect combination of sportiness, space and functionality.' It offers 0-62 mph in 6.8 seconds and V-max of 154mph, from the two-litre petrol 220 PS and there's also a new two-litre diesel 184 PS diesel (managing 0-62 mph in 8.1 seconds with a top speed of 144 mph); both offering more performance, lower fuel consumption and fewer emissions. 

The new third generation Octavia vRS also offers "innovative technology" with updated safety and comfort assistance systems, progressive steering and new design language Bi-xenon headlights with integrated LED daytime running lights and a fresh look of four new 17, 18 and 19-inch alloy wheel options. And of course sports suspension comes as standard, in usual vRS style. And there's a manual gearbox or DSG dual clutch transmission available as options for both engines, each with six gears. Meanwhile, Start-Stop and Brake Energy Regeneration are fitted as standard, as is an Electronic differential lock XDS integrated into the electronic stability control (ESC). 

The new cars are longer (+86-88mm), wider (+45mm) and the wheelbase is 102mm longer too compared to the 2nd Gen. vRS.  

Of course, there's also a range of Skoda's ‘Simply Clever’ features, such as the foldable cargoitems as well as the double-sided boot flooring, an ice scraper in the fuel cap and the high-vis jacket under the driver’s seat. There are also litter containers, multimedia holders and a number of storage compartments, holders and hooks fitted as standard in the new Octavia vRS. The new Octavia estate vRS has an optional adjustable boot floor. The jacket shelf under the boot cover is new in the estate vRS. The roller cover for the boot can be removed and stowed under the adjustable loading floor. The backrest of the rear seat can also be folded 60:40.
"The new ŠKODA Octavia vRS is in a sports league of its own," says ŠKODA CEO Prof. Dr. h.c. Winfried Vahland. "Our latest model stands for horsepower and fuel efficiency and, at the same time, for emotion and rationality. Never before has an Octavia vRS been so fast and dynamic and yet so spacious, convenient, safe and comfortable as the third generation of our compact sports car. In this perfect combination, the new Octavia vRS and Octavia estate vRS set new standards in the sporty compact class and also takes the brand’s sporty genes with it on the road. A perfect car for free time and everyday use, maximum power, the latest technology and great value for money," explains Vahland.
See more images on our Facebook page. 

MAGAZINE: N24 Special Of Road Magazine

Find 50-pages of ace design, cool pictures and quality journalism 100% FREE in our packed, N24 Special of Road Magazine. When you’ve experienced the Nürburgring 24-Hour – as a mentalist endurance racer or a forest dwelling fan – no motorsport ever comes close to exciting in quite the same, paradigm-shifting way. It’s the best circuit racing experience there is... end of story. It’s a couple of years since we last went out, so we were thrilled when Falken Motorsport (and Nick Bailey, Claire Dumbreck and Tiggy Atkinson of Propel Technology) invited us to sample the unique N24 delights again – and follow the fortunes of their all new Porsche 911 GT3 R. Our massive behind the scenes Falken feature in this N24 special of Road gives a true insight into what this unique racing challenge is all about. We also cover Aston Martin – in their 100th year – making history and breaking records with their Hybrid Hydrogen V12 twin turbo Rapide S and kicking ass in their Prodrive-built GT3 Vantage beast: Ground-breaking stuff. Then there’s the story of Mercedes-Benz’s first ever N24 win with the Black Falcon SLS and the other two Rowe Racing team cars that made the final five in the biblical, bionic SLS AMG GT3’s. And we share the full top 20 N24 results. Finally, we’ve got a round-up of some other items of special interest in the 41st ADAC Zurich Nürburgring 24-Hour – including the sparkling debut of Peugeot’s 208 GTi,Manthey Racing and Sabine Schmitz’s 911’s, the BMW Z4M GT3 beasts, our pal Tim Schrick and rapper, Smudo in a biodiesel Scirocco and the vast fleet of Toyota GT86’s that took part in the ultimate endurance racing challenge. Enjoy our N24 special, and share FREE Road magazine with your mates. See our Social Media for more!

BLOG: Falken Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 R @ N24 Feature

The leading feature in our N24 special of Road Magazine is the all-new Falken Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R Type 997. Check out the behind the scenes feature 100% FREE here: http://issuu.com/roadonlinemagazine/docs/road_35_small
And see more great images of the Falken GT3 R – racing in its third N24, Falken 14th and in their 30th year of the brand – on our Facebook page.

NEWS: Alfa Romeo 4C Dynamic Debut @ Goodwood FOS

The Alfa Romeo 4C will make its dynamic debut at the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed (12-14 July). The exclusive ‘Launch Edition’ of the compact supercar will be showcased at the prestigious festival’s ‘First Glance Class’ and will also be seen in action by the public for the very first time as it ascends the famous Hill Climb course.

The ‘Launch Edition’ of the Alfa 4C was given its world première at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year where the model was met with critical acclaim. Made in Italy, the Alfa 4C represents the true essence of a sports car, embodying the authentic values of the Alfa Romeo brand: Italian style, performance and technical excellence, offering maximum driving satisfaction in total safety.
Just like its spiritual predecessor, the iconic 33 Stradale, the Alfa 4C is a mid-engined, rear wheel drive, compact sports coupé. Both cars – along with technical displays of the Alfa 4C chassis and gearbox – will feature on the Alfa Romeo Goodwood stand.
The Alfa 4C offers supreme agility with compact dimensions of just under 4m long, 2m wide and 118cm high; also making it incredibly aerodynamic and efficient. Powered by a new all-aluminium, direct-injection, 240hp 1750cc turbo petrol engine, developing 350Nm of torque, the implemented state-of-the-art technical and technological solutions push the Alfa 4C to reach real supercar performance, as demonstrated by a power to weight ratio of more than 250hp per ton.

NEWS: Cholmondeley Pageant of Power/WalesRally GB Rally Star List Grows

The list of amazing WRC and BRC stars and cars attending this year's Cholmondeley Pageant of Power – thanks largely to a fab new association with Wales Rally GB – is growing nicely and now includes the Qatar M-Sport Ford Fiesta, which just came third in Rally Acropolis.

On top of this, the famous Rally Village to host famous historic models driven by Colin McRae, Jari-Matti Latvala and others and a host of top WRC and BRC drivers to race at the Pageant, including British WRC Academy-winner Elfyn Evans and junior rally champions, no to mention legendary Group B cars to carry out full-acceleration demonstrations for crowds.
Visitors to the 2013 Cholmondeley Pageant of Power (www.cpop.co.uk; 14-16 June) will be able to get up close and personal with some of the biggest names from both the World Rally Championship (WRC) and British Rally Championship (BRC), as a host of star drivers and their 2013 championship-contending machines descend upon the Cholmondeley Estate.
An exciting new partnership with Wales Rally GB will see the Pageant of Power – the UK’s biggest celebration of power and speed – play host to a packed schedule of on-track action featuring a number of British rally drivers.
Amongst them will be rising Welsh star Elfyn Evans, who will take to the course in his Qatar M-Sport Ford Fiesta R5. Throughout the 2012 season, hot shot Evans secured first place in the FIA WRC Academy, the one-make feeder series to the WRC, along with the R2 title in the BRC and the UK Fiesta Sport Trophy.
Other notable British stars lining up to compete around the 1.2-mile track include Tom Cave, who finished second in the 2012 BRC, and reigning Class 3 Welsh National Champion Benjamyn Mckay, while James Ford, Alex Parpottas and Gary Wright complete the BRC entry list.
From further afield, the Proton R3 Motorsports rally team will also be participating in the Pageant of Power, entering the Satria Neo S2000 into the event. Proton Motorsports has enjoyed a great deal of success across Asia with the vehicle, which took the 2011 Asia-Pacific Championship title and finished runner-up in the 2012 Super 2000 World Rally Championship.
Away from the latest rally cars, over twenty iconic Group B cars and drivers will go head to head in machines from an era that many consider to be the ‘golden age’ of rallying. The line-up of these incredible machines will include an Audi Sport Quattro, Audi Quattro A1 and a Peugeot 205 T16, with ex-Peugeot works driver Kevin Furber behind the wheel.
Also on display in the Pageant’s Rally Village – a new addition for 2013 – visitors will be able to view some of the most iconic cars from rallying history, including Colin McRae’s 1996 WRC Subaru Impreza and his 1999 Safari-winning Ford Focus. Also confirmed to be on display will be Jari-Matti Latvala’s 2010 Ford Focus, which took a podium finish in Rally GB that year, and Mikko Hirvonen’s 2010 Monte Carlo-winning Ford Fiesta S2000.
With 2013 seeing the twentieth anniversary of its first win, Francois Delecour’s Ford Escort Cosworth WRC – winner of four rallies between 1993 and 1994 – will be on display to the public for the very first time. There will also be the 1970 Ford Escort which took Hannu Mikkola to victory in the gruelling 16,000-mile London to Mexico World Cup Rally.
James Hall, Event Director for the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, said: "The rally display is going to be one of the highlights of the event and we’re really excited to be hosting some of the greatest cars and drivers from all eras of the sport. Out on track, visitors will be able to witness some of the fastest, most versatile racing machines in the world, while the new Rally Village will showcase some of the most successful and iconic vehicles from the rallying history books."
Now in its sixth year, the 2013 Pageant will take place on the Cholmondeley Estate in Cheshire from 14 to 16 June, celebrating power and performance in its many forms. Until 13 June, adult tickets start at just £24 for the Friday Preview Day, and £32 to see all the action on Saturday or Sunday. Under-16 tickets are currently available from just £5 for the Friday Preview Day and £7 for Saturday and Sunday tickets.
To buy tickets or find further information, visit www.cpop.co.uk.

Wales Rally GB takes place from 14 to 17 November, moving to North Wales in 2013. For event and ticket details go to www.walesrallygb.com.
For the latest updates follow Wales Rally GB on Twitter @walesrallygb, join the conversations on Facebook at www.facebook.com/walesrallygb or visit the website www.walesrallygb.com

NEWS: Bonkers Red Bull Soapbox Race Hits London

In honour of my late father-in-Law, Barry Coupland, who was a huge soapbox fan, creator of 'the Bentley boys' legendary downhill racing cart (see below) and would have loved the forthcoming Red Bull Soapbox Race 2013 at Alexandra Palace on July 14th... an update on the big fun, leftfield London city event run by Red Bull below:

The late, great, Barry Coupland giving it large in his 'Bentley' at Cadwell Park:

Red Bull racers – soapboxes including a Beatles-inspired yellow submarine, a police car and a black cab are taken for a test drive ahead of the Red Bull Soapbox race at Alexandra Palace, London on 14 July.
The vehicles, which each took three weeks to make, are made from BMX bicycle wheels and a steel axel steering mechanism. They were customized using plywood, polystyrene and cardboard tubing, and are covered in coloured plastazote foam with details such as number plates and other branding created using vinyl.
After a nine year hiatus, the world’s wackiest road race returns as 70 human-powered soapboxes compete for glory as part of a festival of music and fun. Judges Rob Marshall (Chief Designer at Red Bull Racing), Danny MacAskill (street trials pro-rider) and Gee Atherton (multi-award winning mountain biker) will be assessing entries on their speed, creativity and crowd-pleasing antics.
Entrants include a loaf of bread baked to soapbox size, Elvis’ blue suede shoe and a Royal baby carriage.
Off the race track, there will be plenty of action to keep the crowds entertained including face painting, ‘people pit-stops’ and live music from DJs.
Chief Designer at Red Bull Racing, Rob Marshall; street trials pro-rider, Danny MacAskill and multi-award winning mountain biker, Gee Atherton; will be the judges on the day.
The course opens to the public at 10.30am, racing commences at 12pm and the winner is crowned at 4pm.
Red Bull Soapbox Race 2013 is at Alexandra Palace on Sunday 14 July to book your £5 ticket please visit www.redbullsoapboxrace.co.uk.

Get involved. You've honestly not lived until you've seen a soapbox derby I promise! I've raced all sorts of drag, race and rally cars and my runs out in Barry's 'Bentley' at Cadwell Park still take some beating for that four-wheel buzz. Such fun.