NEWS: Porsche Carrera Cup Scholarship Launch

Porsche have launched their Porsche GB-supported Scholarship initiative to nurture next generation of GT racers – giving hot shoe young drivers aged 17-22 the chance to compete to win funding worth £80,000 per year for 2014-2015, offering an opportunity to follow in footsteps of 2012-13 Scholar, Dan Lloyd, in Porsche Carrera Cup GB (pictured). 

The 2014 Carrera Cup GB season will mark the next exciting chapter in the Carrera Cup story when the latest 460 hp ‘Type 991’ 911 GT3 Cup is introduced to the Championship. The all-new car will further raise the standard for single marque racing in the UK, and offer drivers the perfect opportunity to participate at the very start of a new era for the Carrera Cup GB.
In 2014, the Carrera Cup GB will offer competitors a sensational bonus with a support race to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. A couple of hours before Porsche returns to the marathon race with a factory-entered LMP1 car, drivers in the Carrera Cup GB will race on the famous French track in a special tie-up with Carrera Cup France.
To enter the Scholarship, drivers must be aged between 17 and 22 years on 1 January 2014, already have a National A race licence and have not previously registered as a competitor in the Carrera Cup GB. They must also be able to demonstrate that they can secure the balance of the required budget for a full season of racing.
Four finalists will be selected for assessment at Silverstone, including evaluation at the Porsche Experience Centre and track tests in a 911 GT3 Cup car. The winner will be the driver who shows the best mix of natural talent, potential and presentation combined with people skills, overall drive and commitment.
Any driver wishing to apply for the 2014 Carrera Cup GB Scholarship Programme should send a CV to: carreracupgb@porsche.co.uk, along with the reasons why they think they should be selected. There is no charge to enter the Scholarship. Applications are now open and will close on 30 September 2013. The four finalists will be evaluated at Silverstone during October 2013, and the 2014 Carrera Cup GB Scholar will be announced in early November 2013.

Get involved!

NEWS: Dunlop Sport Maxx Soft Tyre Success in 2013 BTCC Opener

Dunlop Tyres are reporting success in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) – with the introduction of their new high-performance Dunlop Sport Maxx Soft tyre.
This is one of the greatest changes in recent times for the series, with the tyre being used in one of the three races as nominated by the driver, giving a significant performance advantage.
BTCC organisers, TOCA, set Dunlop a goal of providing an option tyre which gives a minimum one-second per lap performance advantage for the initial laps, as a contrast to the standard (Sport Maxx Medium) tyre which is proven to offer consistent performance throughout the race. It was intended that tyre strategy would become part of the overall driver strategy and add to the excitement of the racing. This was certainly prevalent at the first round at Brands Hatch over Easter weekend.
Dunlop say: "The opening round of the Championship saw the soft tyre race debut and all expectations were met. Of the nine podium places, drivers on the soft tyres took three. Rob Austin stole the headlines in race one by charging from seventh on the grid to take the lead on his set of soft tyres before dropping back, however he still finished third. He set the fastest lap of the race on lap twelve of 27.
Matt Neal won the final race on soft tyres having started fourth, while perhaps the most commendable performance on the soft compound was from Gordon Shedden who finished the same race in second having started from the back of the grid in 25th place."
Alan Gow, BTCC Administrator & Series Director said: "Dunlop really delivered with this new tyre - it performed exactly how we wanted it to. But, to be honest, it's exactly what I expected from the great team at Dunlop Motorsport....their expertise and enthusiasm is second-to-none."
James Bailey, Director, Marketing and Communications, Dunlop Motorsport Europe said: "The new tyre uses a compound from the endurance racing range. While the regular Dunlop Sport Maxx is renowned for its wide operating window, the soft option has a ‘sweet-spot’ that is more focussed. Being derived from endurance racing, even after the tyre has peaked it still retains a high level of performance.
"We have had a great deal of success in the endurance world with the compounds from which the BTCC soft tyre is derived. While Dunlop has taken 34 overall wins out of 80 at the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours, LMP2 is currently the most competitive class. Dunlop has won in LMP2 in 2011 with the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup and 2012 in the successor World Endurance Championship. 2013 would be our hat-trick. We would also be taking a Le Mans LMP2 hat-trick if we win there as well.
“As ever we will listen to feedback from TOCA and drivers as the season progresses and we encounter different tracks and conditions."
Interesting BTCC times!

NEWS: 2013 Time Attack Championship

Less than a week to go until the start of the 2013 Time Attack UK Championship – with the first round at Cadwell Park, on April 1st bank holiday Monday. You going?
To help get you in the mood, here's a great video from Togethia TV from the 2012 Cadwell event – a wet old affair, most likely as this year will be. At least the turbo cars will enjoy all the cold air there is at the moment.
This year features some new tyre regulations and the usual multiple classes for Club Challenge and Pro entries, in FWD, RWD and 4WD groups – so plenty of silverware to play for.
And the 2013 dates and venues are well spread across the UK at a good range of superb fast and flowing and tight and technical circuits, for a fair fight:
Round 1 – 1st April, Cadwell Park
Round 2 – 11th May, Croft
Round 3 – 9th June, Snetterton
Round 4 – 20th July, Oulton Park
Round 5 (Pro class) – 8th September, Silverstone
Round 5 (Club class) – 14th September, Donington
Round 6 Finale – 29th September, Brands Hatch
The series created in 2005 is looking like developing on another notch this year – so expect plenty of close competition and some really great sprint cars and (some race) drivers in all classes. We're particularly looking forward to seeing if Simon Deaton's Porsche GT3 R factory-fettled race ace can compete against the big power 'point and squirt' turbo nutters in the Pro class, even with 'only' 500bhp against some cars with nigh-on 1,000bhp. But there's many a battle to enjoy. So, check out a round near you – Time Attack is a great sprint series that deserves your support. You'll have a great day spectating. Or, why not enter your car as a OHW (One Hit Wonder)? It's great value and great fun racing, with less risk of damage and a super friendly paddock of new friends in the making. Get involved!
Find out more at the Time Attack website. Good luck everyone!

NEWS: RMA Track Day Diary 2013

Having been involved in the Oulton Park filming of 'Racing Legends - Colin McRae' with Sir Chris Hoy, good pals and Road track day operating buddies, RMA Track Days, are back to their bread and butter now – running first class track days in the UK and Europe. If you want to know what one looks like, check out our Tim Schrick special at Donington Park. They are incredible – open pit lane, overtaking either side, great camaraderie and the best cars imaginable on track. Do one this year! You will not regret spending the extra cash, if only for the amount of track time and space you get, let alone the machinery (and media!) you get to mix with. Expect to see Team Road at some of these events, as usual, in a cracking press car or pasting folk in our old, but not to be underestimated Project S4! The RMA Track Days 2013 dates so far include: 

• Guadix, Spain: 10th & 11th February 2013: Very limited amount of space remaining on this event which is principally designed for those looking for some pre-season testing in decent weather. Book your place now!
• Donington Park - £240: 'Noisy' day: 118 dB(A), 7th March 2013. Make full use of this amazing track in cars that struggle to pass usual 110 dB(A) or lower sound regs. Always an amazing line up on track at this event. 
• Brands Indy - £199: 105 dB(A), 27th March 2013. Just before the first British Touring Car Championship meeting, so expect this event to sell out well beforehand & the track to be full of BTCC stars. Book your place now!
• Silverstone GP - £399: 105 dB(A), 17th April 2013. Home of British Motorsport... need we say more? 
• Spa-Francorchamps, 13th, 14th & 15th May (13th is for cars on road tyres only, 14th is for road and track shod cars and the 15th is for track prepared and seriously quick cars only). Great format on one of the best circuits in the world. 
• Other dates include: Dijon 16th July, Brands Hatch GP 25th July, Le Mans 18th August & Spa 23rd & 24th Sept.

VIDEO: Genius or madness? Autoglym shine at BTCC final. Groan!

There are some good, bad & ugly viral videos out there. We think this is all three, and a few more unpublishable adjectives besides. It's certainly the cheesiest viral we've seen in a long, long time. It's either genius, or the worse viral ever... you decide! It shows Autoglym BTCC drivers and teams revealing their secret why their cars are so quick... wax! And features the Take That song, 'Let It Shine.' Groan...

NEWS: One-make Atom Cup UK is Go!

Ariel Motor Company has announced exciting plans for its one-make Atom Cup UK race series in 2013 – featuring a 245bhp, 510Kg, 'Cup' spec Atom, with a roll cage, two-litre i-VTEC engine with six-speed gearbox, Alcon brakes (adjustable bias), Yokohama A048 tyres, Ohlins adjustable suspension, Race Technology dash and safety gear. The new series – which will bring first rate hospitality with professional levels of catering and entertainment, be highly social and make it the sort of place you can bring your family too happily – will run alongside other motorsport, as part of the MSVR package run by Motorsportvision. It will take place at eight premier UK tracks: Brands Indy & GP, Cadwell Park, Oulton Park, Donington Park and Silverstone GP and National. There will be three packages available – Bronze (car, entry fees & hospitality) at £53,195 + VAT, Silver (as Bronze, plus tyres & fuel and track assist) at £59,995 + VAT and Gold (as silver, plus transportation and storage), at £69,652 + VAT. The new Cup Atom will be capable of 145mph, thanks to its 480bhp per ton power to weight figure, and the racing should be dead close. But there's enough adjustability left in the car to make set-up all important, as well as driver skill. It looks bloody ace! Like everything Ariel do. Bravo to them for pulling it off. Can't wait to report on the first race next year. Find out more on Facebook: www.facebook.com/atomcupuk and @atomcup on Twitter.

VIDEO: Gary Hawkins Corvette Stingray Brands GP In-Car

Check old this fabulous slice of in-car imagery and old-skool-cool car racing, shot by Gary Hawkins (see more of his great work here: http://www.ghp.moonfruit.com/) of Christian Dick fighting his way around Brands GP Circuit in a 1970's Corvette Stingray. The racing took place in the Heritage Grand Touring car Challenge at the MSVR GP Weekend. Quite a handful of a motor, with third and forth gear oversteer  – in and out of the corners, even on the straights – on the back side of the GP track. Fabulous retro racing stuff. Imagine what it's like in the wet!

VIDEO: Drift Allstars Drift School with Road Magazine

Here Team Road Magazine is at MSV Brands Hatch – learning to go broadside properly with Niall Gunn and his Drift Allstars Drift School crew (http://www.drift-allstars.com). This is one of their entry level drift courses, costing c£60, where you get to do donuts, figure of eight donuts, a mini drift course and finish with a proper full-chat lap like this one... on the bump stops, lock to lock. Sweet! Niall and his Drift Allstars drivers use an expanding fleet of excellent Nissan 350Z's, mildly modified (uprated limited slip differential, some with coilovers, others standard Z suspension, decent rubber and air filter and exhaust stuff), which make the perfect drift school tool: No overheating, blown head gaskets and limited mods to knock about sideways all day, every day, reliably... unlike the old Skyline GT-S and S14 and S14 200SX's... which are getting a bit long in the tooth now, good as they are at drifting, with the right tuning. The Drift Allstars courses are a lot of fun, attracting men and women of all ages, keen to learn the dark art of going sideways, for more than a fleeting moment. And Niall's band of relaxed, expert drifters make good teachers... as this video shot by www.roylemedia.co.uk shows clearly: Just watch how much work the steering wheel is doing, and listen to the throttle inputs. Watch & learn folks... and get yourself booked in for a day of opposite lock, and you'll be a drift God in no time... like me!

NEWS: RMA Track Club Get Porsche Cayman S Tuition Car

Road track day buddies, RMA (http://www.rmatrackdays.com/) have added another reason to join them on their exciting 2012 track day forays – a Porsche Cayman S tuition vehicle. The 170mph, stable, quick, mid-engined, rear wheel-drive Porsche with 320bhp is a fabulous track tool, and great fun to learn in – especially fitted with super grippy Michelin Pilot Super Sport Tyres and equipped with Racelogic's Video VBOX data logging video tool, to see where you are going wrong, or getting it right. RMA boss, Graham Clarke said: "The car will principally be used by Leyton (his son & ARDS instructor, http://leytonclarke.com/) but will occasionally be available for hot laps, track day hire and corporate use." Looks like another great reason to get involved... along with the overtaking either side, low numbers, great cars, fabulous atmosphere RMA philosophy. See their dates at many UK and European circuits here: http://www.rmatrackdays.com/trackdays/events.asp, starting at Brands Hatch, March 28th. We'll see you there...

VIDEO: Manthey Racing Porsche 911 GT3 RSR

See just why we at Road Magazine are so excited to hear our friends and the infamous Manthey Racing GT3 RSR will be racing across Europe at eight perfect circuits in the GT Open this year (see post below). This external and in-car footage from the 2008 ADAC Nurburgring 24-Hour shows just what an absolute circuit devouring weapon it is... just listen to that engine and transmission working in perfect harmony: 911 Heaven! No wonder they have won this most gruelling of endurance races five times... and we'll have big money on them winning in the rest of Europe too. Anyone care to disagree?

NEWS: Manthey 911 GT3 RSR Aiming To Dominate GT Open

The all-conquering Nürburgring 24-Hour-and-VLN-winning Manthey Racing GT3 RSR is heading off into Europe – aiming to dominate the International GT Open series. Porsche works driver, Marco Holzer and 2011 German Carrera Cup champion, Nick Tandy will pilot the Nürburgring legend in eight races, on eight classic circuits across mainland Europe. The famous yellow and green 911 was collected from Weissach last week and left the workshop (pictured) for the first time today, on it's way to Barcelona for the first track test. The Manthey monster will race at:
Portugal at Portimao 28.04.2012
Germany at Nurburgring 26.05.2012
Belgium at Spa-Francorchamps 23.06.2012
England at Brands Hatch 14.07.2012
France at Paul Ricard 21.07.2012
Hungary at Hungaroring 08.09.2012
Italy at Monza 28.09.2012
Spain at Barcelona 03.11.2012

Watch out GT Open drivers and teams...! And the very best of luck to Olaf and all at Manthey Racing, for their venture into European GT racing. We are sure you will dominate... as you have on the Green Hell. Thanks to our pal Jochen for the images. Find him at:
Website: http://www.frozenspeed.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/frozenspeed