VIDEO: Hyundai i20 WRC Test

Can't wait for this little badboy to launch next year. Maybe Hyundai can have an unreal launch season like VW eh? Why the heck not! Good to see new blood in WRC. We'd like to see Mitsubishi, Subaru and Nissan back in rallying. Who'd you like to see there?

PRODUCT: Mamas And Papas Roller Sunshades

With all this superb Summer sunshine, we've been struggling to find a decent sunshade pack that looks good and works well – until we came across this roller sunshade twin pack from Mamas and Papas.
Part of their great value, superbly designed 'Travel Essentials' range, this £9.99 twin pack of roller blinds takes a minute to fit – using the suction mounts and velcro fasteners provided – and are absolutely superb at keeping the searing, heat-inducing sunlight out of your car, off your kids, dogs, shopping or passengers. They are 45cm x 35.5cm extended, which is enough to fill most rear windows – even our Range Rover. They come highly recommended – especially if you are after a product that looks good too: They're discreet, effective, fit all makes of cars and work a treat, with their neat one-push release system. Why not keep your interior cool this Summer with a set?

VIDEO: Retro Rides Gathering @ Prescott Hill Climb

Superb video by Dan Osborne of some superb Summer fun at Prescott for the Retro Rides Gathering with some awesome cult classics on display. What's your fav?

NEWS: Skoda's Giant FREE Ice Cream Van

To celebrate the launch of the 'vRS Treatment' TV ad (see it on the Facebook page) – Skoda is sending a giant ice cream to popular UK beach resorts, to serve up 6,500 servings of (giant, FREE!) ice cream to Brits as it tours the UK over the kid's Summer holidays, starting this bank holiday weekend. 

Literally, cool!
The giant vRS ice cream van was launched at Great Yarmouth today, where local children tucked in to huge ice creams. Members of the public will have a chance to sample free ice creams as the giant ice cream van embarks on a national tour in the coming month.
To celebrate the launch of the Octavia vRS – the fastest ŠKODA ever – the company set a team of engineers the task of bringing the same qualities that go into the car to other everyday objects. The result is every child’s dream - a giant ice cream van complete with 5 foot monster truck wheels and four mega speakers.
The giant ice cream van, which measures over 21 feet, weighs in at a chunky 5.5 tonnes. It took the team of engineers over 3 weeks to create and stars in the new advert for the Octavia vRS, which hits TV screens on Sunday 25 August. The ice cream van features alongsideother souped-up versions of everyday gadgets including a giant toy ‘trike’, lawnmower with multiple exhaust pipes and flaming go-faster stripes, and the vRS Man-Pram.
Heidi Cartledge, Head of Marketing at ŠKODA UK comments: "The Octavia vRS is not your average family car, and so we created an ice cream van that is also far from average! The giant ice cream van will be touring the UK handing out up to 6,500 servings of free ice cream, offering members of the public a fun sense of what you could experience if you vRS’d your life."

The giant ice cream van will be visiting and serving free ice cream at:

• Bournemouth Air Festival - Thursday 29 August to Sunday 1 September
• Various ‘King of the Mountains’ stages at Tour of Britain. Dates TBC. For more information follow @SkodaUKCycling
• Royal County of Berkshire Show at Newbury - Saturday 21 September and Sunday 22 September

The new advert will feature in commercial breaks during the Premier league matches between Manchester United and Chelsea and between Cardiff City and Manchester City on Sky Sports. The advert will also appear on Channel 4 during the return of BAFTA nominated drama Top Boy as well as on Five during the final Ashes test between England and Australia.
ŠKODA are keen to hear from anyone with an everyday item that could benefit from being given the vRS treatment – check out the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/skoda or submit ideas via Twitter @SkodaUK #vRSUP

NEWS: Wales Rally GB Hospitality Packs Are Go!

Wales Rally GB hospitality packages are now on sale – offering four cool packages, at four sensational Wales Rally GB viewing points, with different hospitality locations for each day of the rally (14-17 November), priced from just £129 +VAT. See the only round of the WRC in the UK in style... 

With the event heading back to its roots and having been relocated to North Wales for this year, the hospitality on offer for 2013 is based at all-new in-stage viewing points. On each day of the rally, from the Thursday to the Sunday, the hospitality will be situated in a different stunning location along the rally route.
For qualifying on the Thursday in the middle of Coed Llandegla Forest, hospitality is based at the Llandegla Oneplanet Mountain Bike Centre where the thrilling forest qualifying stage will be watched from a VIP viewing point, before returning to the centre for a full hearty and traditional Welsh lunch.
On the Friday at Sweet Lamb, among some of the most magnificent scenery in the heart of mid-Wales, and with a 270° view, corporate guests will get to watch the WRC cars traverse a deep water splash, jumps and hairpin bends before competitors cross the River Wye and head over the valley. A three course meal is included, as well as access to the RallyFest entertainment area. Benefits also include live commentary and an exhilarating atmosphere from one of the largest crowds expected on any of the special stages of the rally.
Saturday’s hospitality location is the ultimate breathtaking venue – Chirk Castle – a 700-year-old fortress owned by the National Trust, and this has never previously featured as a stage on the event. Hospitality guests can take in castle views of the spectacular surrounding countryside, and after a fitting banquet lunch inside the magnificent castle, the afternoon stage will be used twice in quick succession by the WRC contenders, followed by one running of the National field.
On Sunday, true rally fans will be keen to head to Kinmel Park, which was last part of the Rally GB route in the 1970s. From here there are sensational views of the North Wales coastline, and it’s a fast stage using tracks around the old Victorian house and over rolling parkland. The in-stage experience starts with a champagne brunch at the Kinmel Arms, before guests access the VIP viewing area to see two runs of the WRC and National competitors.
Andrew Coe, Chief Executive of Wales Rally GB event organiser International Motor Sports, said: “Rallying is such an exciting product for client entertainment, and MatchPoint is the perfect partner to help us deliver the very best hospitality packages at Wales Rally GB, in four incredible North Wales forest and countryside locations.
“What’s more, Wales Rally GB hospitality offers not only great value for money, compared to other motor sport events in the UK, but also puts corporate clients right in the middle of the action with our unique ‘in-stage’ experiences at Llandegla Forest, Sweet Lamb, Chirk Castle and Kinmel Park. Being at the heart of it all is just one of the USPs of Wales Rally GB hospitality.
“Where else in the world could you imagine having lunch in a thirteenth century castle, with twenty-first century WRC cars thundering past outside! This is truly a ‘one of a kind’ experience.”
Neil Cunningham, Group Managing Director of MatchPoint, said: “We are delighted to be partnering again with Wales Rally GB. We have developed a range of options to allow our rally clientele to enjoy world class motor sport in a cost effective way. We are looking forward to working with the Wales Rally GB team again, as well as all the local suppliers, with whom we’ve built great relationships over the last three years.”
Prices for official 2013 Wales Rally GB hospitality, from MatchPoint, start at £129 + VAT per person. This is for qualifying hospitality at Llandegla Forest on the Thursday (14 November).
For further information on each of the four 2013 Wales Rally GB hospitality packages available, visitwww.walesrallygb.com/hospitality. To make a booking and secure your place at the heart of the rally, call MatchPoint directly on +44 (0)2920 022 838 or email walesrallygb@matchpoint.co.uk.

Alternatively, for general admittance, Wales Rally GB adult tickets 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* (when booked in advance) with an extra £1* for each additional child. The World Rally Pass is available for just £99 (down from £130 in 2012). 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.

And 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.

Action images - Les Kolczak - www.worldrallypics.com

PROJECT CARS: Meet Our New Cool Cat Project XFR "Jaaaaag!"

"My foot slipped" says Road Magazine pal, Andy Robinson – as he gets to grips with his new car and our new Project car, a super cool cat, 503bhp supercharged V8 Jaguar XFR.
Good old Andy has already taken the fast feline up the drag strip too, just days after picking it up (top man!) and you can read the first of many instalments on the new Project XFR – which will feature a fair number of tuning enhancements – on our Project Car section of the Road website here.
And see a whole bank of images on our Facebook page too.
Do let Andy and Team Road know what you think as the project progresses... and keep your eyes peeled for more rapid project cars coming later this Summer...

NEWS: Cool New British Auto Legend Stamp Collection

Check out these new 'British Auto Legnds' stamps, released by Royal Mail this week – featuring six iconic British sports cars and four retro classics (Catalogue code: AQ199), priced at £4.95 inc. VAT.
The Royal mails says: "All ten of these glorious Special Stamps, plus the Miniature Sheet, have been reproduced at postcard size from the original stamp artwork. This enables you to enjoy every wonderful detail of these legendary vehicles, and also creates a wonderful gift idea for every car enthusiast in your life." 

The 60 x 21mm sports car collection includes:
* Jaguar E-Type — 1961
Arguably the most beautiful car in history, the Jaguar E-Type’s stunning looks and 150mph performance created a worldwide sensation when it was launched at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1961.
* MG MGB — 1962
Blending sleek good looks with affordability, the MGB quickly became the world’s most popular roadster, leading to overall sales of more than 500,000 cars before its sad demise in 1980.
* Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow — 1965
The epitome of automotive elegance, the Silver Shadow combined traditional charm with modern technology to create a car offering quite unsurpassable standards of refinement and comfort.
* Morgan Plus 8 — 1968
With looks that were considered retro even when it was launched, the wooden framed Plus 8 nevertheless enjoyed worldwide popularity, thanks largely to the exciting driving experience it offered.
* Aston Martin DB5 — 1963
The archetypal Grand Tourer, the Aston Martin DB5 was capable of 150mph, and quickly gained iconic status following its role as Sean Connery’s lethal co-star in the James Bond classic Goldfinger.
* Lotus Esprit — 1976
With the Esprit, Colin Chapman created a mid-engined machine more than capable of challenging the old guard of supercars. It also famously transformed into a submarine for The Spy Who Loved Me. 

And the 180 x 74mm retro classics includes: 

* Morris Minor Van PostEurop entry 2013
Launched in 1953, five years after the original Morris Minor saloon, the Light Commercial Vehicle range proved hugely popular with firms large and small thanks to its ease of use and sizable carrying capacity. The Royal Mail Morris Minor in particular became something of a British institution thanks in part to its length of service, with bright red vans being used to pick up and deliver mail into the late 1970s.
* Austin FX4
Designed by Austin’s Eric Bailey and introduced in 1958, the manufacture of this much-loved ‘black cab’ stretched for 39 years. With a separate body and chassis, and initially powered by a 2.2-litre, four-cylinder engine, the FX4 was a rugged workhorse where practicality and ease of maintenance were key considerations as six-figure mileages were the norm. Production of this iconic design was later taken over by LTI (London Taxis International).
* Ford Anglia 105E
When the term ‘panda car’ was first coined in the mid 1960s, it denoted a small saloon such as the Ford Anglia 105E where sections of bodywork were finished in contrasting colours. The Anglia was one of a number of different vehicles used to meet the growing need for motorised patrol cars in police forces across the UK. In addition to being modestly priced, it was reliable, economical to run and easy to manoeuvre.
* Land Rover Defender 110
The original Land Rover entered production in 1948 and since then countless variations have followed with different wheelbases and body styles. The vehicle has long been favoured by the British Army and by farmers because of its agility off road, while emergency services such as Her Majesty’s Coastguard were also quick to adopt the model for its resilience and ability to carry life-saving equipment to the remotest areas.

Very cool collection for car buffs, even if you're not a stamp collecting type. But what six iconic British sports cars and four classics would you chose if you were doing this?