NEWS: Alset Global Joins Hydrogen London Movement

The technology and engineering company responsible for the paradigm-shifting, record-breaking, 160mph zero emissions lapping of the 2013 Nürburgring 24-Hour in a 500PS Aston Martin Rapide V12 twin turbo (as featured here) – Alset Global – has joined the Hydrogen London scheme. 

Alset's ground-breaking Hybrid Hydrogen technology system works with the internal combustion engine to allow today and tomorrow’s passenger cars and commercial vehicles to run on hydrogen, gasoline/diesel or a blend of both fuels. It has been developed as a practical and affordable way to reduce CO2 emissions without comprising driving range, refuelling time or performance.

“Alset welcomes the opportunity to join industry leaders and explore the potential for new technologies and implement sustainable mobility solutions based on Hydrogen. The hydrogen economy will be driven by forward-thinking cities such as London and we have long admired the work of Hydrogen London,” says Gonzalo Auil, Regional Manager of Alset Global. “The hydrogen movement is growing and its voice is becoming louder and more credible by the day. Alset Global brings a more immediate automotive technology solution that can provide carbon-free mobility now while we wait for the hydrogen infrastructure to catch up.”
“In May we have proved the performance, durability and reliability of Hybrid Hydrogen in one of the most challenging environments possible, the next step for Alset Global is to show what this means in real life,” adds Auil. “Joining Hydrogen London enables us to reach out for more clients who are concerned with emission targets and legislations offering solutions with a clear cost advantage.”

Road Magazine believes this hybrid Hydrogen technology could future-proof the high performance car and allow future generations to enjoy V8's, V12's, turbos and all manner of glorious combustion engine etherial loveliness... so spread the word about Alset Global. They are the saviours of big power! And don't just take my word for it. Read what Aston Martin think and why they chose to work with Alset here.

Company history

Alset Global was formed in 2005 and is a technology and engineering company working on clean mobility solutions based on hydrogen. With European engineering headquarters in Graz, Austria, Alset Global has developed a unique, patented Hybrid Hydrogen system, to run on pure gasoline or pure hydrogen or a blend of both, which is designed to offer automotive OEMs, vehicle fleets and cities a clean mobility solution in time for new European emission standards in 2020 without disrupting the industry.

NEWS: Hyundai i20 WRC Testing Mission Is On

Hyundai Motorsport are contuining their development of their fabulous new 2014-spec i20 WRC over the Summer and into Autumn, with a monster series of tarmac tests in France and gravel blasts in Finland (pictured), just the tip of the iceberg of their assault on the WRC.
Test drivers Bryan Bouffier and Juho Hänninen were both in action over a total of ten days with both drivers sharing duties on tarmac before gravel specialist Hänninen assumed control on his home turf.
The latest iteration of the i20 WRC car hit tarmac roads for the first time in the Vosges region of France from August 12 to 16 with the main objective of gathering experience and data on this terrain.
“For our first time with the 2014-spec i20 WRC on tarmac, we adopted a deliberately broad test plan with the main goal of defining the base set-up for that surface,” explained Team Principal Michel Nandan. “We completed good mileage with no major issues, and obtained valuable feedback from both Bryan and Juho, which will allow us to concentrate next on fine-tuning the individual components. Overall, it was a very positive tarmac debut.”
Bryan Bouffier added: “I think this test has given us a very good base from which we can develop further. The roads in the Vosges region allowed us to assess some key components and to identify the characteristics of the i20 WRC on tarmac. I’m very pleased with the behaviour of the car in the fast sections and when the road is bumpy. Of course, we will continue working on some areas but overall I find the car very well balanced and easy to handle.”
From the tarmac test, the team moved to Finland last week to tackle the fast gravel roads and the well-known jumps, which characterise Rally Finland, one of the most technically demanding rallies of World Rally Championship. With local hero Juho Hänninen behind the wheel, the test featured an upgraded version of the 2014-spec of the i20 WRC.
“In Finland we used an evolution of the 2014-spec car, different from the one which we used in France,” added Nandan. “We applied some changes to the shape of the body and during the test we worked on the aerodynamics of the car. The i20 WRC was fitted with a new aerodynamics package and we focussed our efforts in finding a good balance. We wanted to check that all aspects of the car worked properly at high speed, as well as on the jumps, which are extremely demanding. The car can reach extreme acceleration through these jumps so it is essential to study the behaviour of the car and all of its components upon landing. We’ve also tried different suspension and differential solutions to develop the best set-up for next year’s rally.”
Juho Hänninen commented: “I was positively surprised with the handling of the i20 WRC after the first run. When you go to Finland for the first time you never know what to expect; sometimes, it can be really rough and there can be a lot of work required on the suspension. In this case, though, it was really easy from the first day and we were able to work making only minor adjustments. The car reacted very well to every change we made throughout the five days. I felt that I could trust the car immediately and the feeling got stronger day after day.”
With test sessions planned almost every two weeks, Hyundai Motorsport now faces the busiest time of the development phase ahead of its entry into next year’s FIA World Rally Championship.
“With new features on the car on every test session there’s a lot of work to be done not only on the ground but also back at the factory in order to get the car ready. There’s a great team effort and everyone is doing his best,” concluded Nandan.

Team Road wishes all the team at Hyundai the very best in tests and hope they bring as much to WRC as VW have this year. Great to see some great diversity entering the WRC. 

Now come on Subaru! Mitsubishi! Nissan! ;-) 

NEWS: Wales Rally GB 'Road To Wales' Initiative Offers Eight FOC WRC Entries

Wales Rally GB’s 'Road to Wales' initiative is all go – offering eight prize drives to national competitors for the epic only-UK WRC round, 14-17 November.
There are two deciding rounds left of the 2013 British Rally Championship and BTRDA Rally Series and the top three finishers in the overall MSA British Rally Championship as well as class winners in both British Junior and RallyTwo Rally categories will all be offered free entries into the concluding round of the 2013 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). Additionally, the winner of the NGK Spark Plugs BRC Challenge will be awarded a free entry into the three-day National Rally that runs alongside the WRC event in the legendary Welsh Forests.
Currently, Jukka Korhonen from Finland leads the BRC ahead of Tom Cave (from Gwynedd), with Alastair Fisher (based in County Tyrone) and Jonny Greer (from Belfast) tied in third place in the championship standings. Daniel McKenna (County Monaghan, Ireland) heads the RallyTwo Championship table, as Benjamyn McKay (Oswestry, Shropshire) leads the charge in the British Junior category and Russ Thompson (from near Clitheroe in Lancashire) has collected the most points so far in the BRC Challenge.
Wales Rally GB also has a similar partnership with the British Trial and Rally Drivers Association (BTRDA). 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.
Charlie Payne (Harrogate, North Yorkshire) is the leading Gold Star Driver in the championship standings after the seventh round, and James West (London) is currently in the running for winning the Rally First series.
“I’m watching the BRC and BTRDA leader boards in anticipation, as we edge closer and closer to Wales Rally GB, which is now just 10 weeks away! With the two national series nearing their end of season, it’s exciting to see which names will be potentially lining up on the same forest stages as the leading WRC competitors,” said Andrew Coe, Chief Executive of IMS.
BRC Managing Director, Mark Taylor, commented: “It’s a pleasure to be working with the Wales Rally GB organisers in an even closer capacity this year, to promote rallying in the UK. Providing incentives to our drivers to compete at a higher level on the WRC stage is the best way to open up the sport and encourage more people to participate, whether it be competing or spectating. The competition is very close in this year’s BRC, and our drivers will be fighting it out to try and make sure they get one of the valuable starts in Wales in November.”
BTRDA Championship Coordinator, Steve Gregg, said: “We are looking forward to seeing two of our BTRDA competitors taking up this superb opportunity to compete within a world-class event, at the pinnacle of rallying. As our Championship is now heading towards its penultimate round, we wish our drivers in contention for the Wales Rally GB drives all the best and I personally can’t wait for what will be a truly classic WRC event in North Wales.”

Wales Rally GB Tickets

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* 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 officialwww.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.

NEWS: McLaren & Audi Join RMA Track Days

Road Magazine luxury track day pals, RMA Track Days – running the best (open pit lane, over-taking either side, no over-crowding & jaw-droppoing cars) circuit events at Europe's premier tracks – have lined up McLaren to join their forthcoming track day hoon at Silverstone on September 18th, and Audi are all set to join in the RMA brand of tyre-pounding fun at Belgian super-circuit, Spa-Francorchamps on 23rd and 24th September too. Sweet as...! Get involved!   

Selected RMA track day participants will be able to try out McLaren's amazing, 592bhp, 205mph high-tech hypercar – the MP4-12C – on the full Silverstone Grand Prix circuit on the 18th. And Audi will be bringing a brace of R8 V10 Plus', RS6 and RS4 to the simply superb Spa for potential clients to try on track. 

Does life get much better? 

We think not... 

See you there at one of RMA's fab forthcoming events:

• Silverstone GP, 18th September 2013, from £425 - 105 dB(A)
• Spa Francorchamps, 23rd - 24th September 2013 from £395 - 106 dB(A)
• Donington Park, 14th October 2013, from £275 - 98 dB(A)
• Goodwood Exclusive, 23rd October 2013, from £525 - 105 dB(A)
• New revised Donington Park, 8th November 2013, from £225 - 98 dB(A)
• Spa Francorchamps, 24th November 2013, from £295 - 106 dB(A)

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?