MAGAZINE: Road 30: Toyota GT86 & Subaru BRZ Special: Standard & Tuned

Open publication - Free publishing - More banzai

This month's Road Magazine is all about the cult car cachet of the instantly iconic Toyota GT86 & Subaru BRZ. Travis drummer and Road race ace, Neil Primrose drives the standard Subaru BRZ across the South Lakes and gives his expert verdict. Road Editor, Phil Royle takes the Toyota GT86 on an early morning road trip on some of the UK's quietest roads, to discover its charms. And we take a look at three of the best tuned versions of the cars that are rapidly becoming tuning icons too – with Sumo Power & JRM Racing's GT86 kit in R&D at Snetterton, the developing Litchfield Motors BRZ Performance Pack and Fensport's sprinting GT86. We hope you enjoy this issue of Road, 100% FREE...? Please do share it with your friends and family on social network sites and forums. Enjoy! Team Road, out! Also, check out our 30+ back issues of Road Magazine on our new look website: www.roadmagazine.co.ukAnd see some extra behind the scenes images here on our jam-packed Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/roadmagblogLike it?! LIKE it...!!

NEWS: Citroën Announce New DS3 RRC: Regional Rally Car

Following the success of the Citroën Racing DS3 WRC, here is the new WRC-inspired DS3 Regional Rally Car (RRC) for private drivers, designed to gradually replace the Super 2000 style rally cars. The car has been built to be used in championships below WRC level, including ERC and some national championships. Citroën say: "Visually different, with slight changes under the bonnet, the RRC otherwise maintains the key strengths of the DS3 WRC. We are proud to present the DS3 RRC. Faithfully derived from the DS3 WRC, the double World Rally Championship-winning car*, this version has been designed for private drivers and is suitable for use in a wide variety of competitions (WRC-2, ERC, MERC, etc.)."
Having come into force at the start of 2011, the new FIA World Rally Cars regulations allow manufacturers to produce a Regional Rally Car (RRC) variant of their models. Set to gradually replace cars in the Super 2000 category, these products are intended for use in the championships below the level of the WRC: WRC- 2 (formerly S-WRC), European Rally Championship (ERC), Middle East Rally Championship (MERC), some national championships and so on.
The World Rally Championship-winning car in 2011 and 2012*, the Citroën DS3 WRC is now available in an RRC version. Visually, the two models are different since the regulations are more restrictive as regards aerodynamic features on the RRC. The bumper intakes are smaller and the rear spoiler complies with the S2000 standards.
Under the bonnet, the 1.6-litre turbocharged direct-injection engine has been slightly modified, with a specific engine flywheel and a 30mm booster flange (compared with 33mm on the WRC). Maximum power output therefore drops to 275bhp. The other significant change concerns the brakes in tarmac configuration: the diameter of the discs has been reduced from 355 to 350mm and the water-cooling system has been removed.
Aside from these changes, the Citroën DS3 RRC maintains all the strengths of its big sister: reinforced body with welded, multi-point roll cage offering a high level of safety and resilience, MacPherson suspensions and Citroën Racing adjustable shock absorbers, six-speed sequential gearbox, etc.
Developed over the summer during test sessions on gravel and tarmac, the Citroën DS3 RRC is now available for leasing from Citroën Racing Technologies. Its modest running costs and versatility make it an intermediary option between the DS3 R3 and the DS3 WRC.

Looks terrific and we hope the new RRC cars will revitalise the privateer rallying scene. Tres bon Citroën!  

DS3 RRC TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
CHASSIS
Structure Reinforced body with welded, multi-point roll cage
Bodywork Steel and composite fibre

ENGINE
Type Citroën Racing - 1.6-litre turbocharged direct injection engine, with a 30mm
diam flange
Bore x stroke 82x75.5mm
Capacity 1,598cc
Maximum power 275bhp at 6,000rpm
Maximum torque 350Nm at 3,250rpm
Distribution Double overhead camshaft valve train driven by timing belt
4 valves per cylinder
Fuel feed Direct injection controlled by Magneti Marelli SRP-HP unit

CLUTCH
Type Cerametallic twin-disk

TRANSMISSION
Type Four-wheel drive
Gearbox Sadev six-speed sequential - Manual control
Differential Front and rear mechanical, auto-locking

BRAKES
Front Ventilated disks, 350mm (tarmac) and 300mm (gravel)
Water-cooled 4-piston callipers (tarmac)
Rear 300mm - 4-piston callipers
Distribution Adjustable from cockpit
Handbrake Hydraulic control

SUSPENSION
Type MacPherson
Shock absorbers Citroën Racing three-way adjustable shock absorbers
(low- and high-speed compression and rebound)

STEERING
Type Hydraulic power-assisted steering

WHEELS
Tarmac 8x18’’ wheels - Michelin tyres
Gravel and snow 7x15’’ wheels - Michelin tyres

DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES
Length / Width 3,948mm / 1,820mm
Wheel base 2,461mm
Track 1,618mm (front and rear)
Fuel tank 75 litres
Weight 1,200kg minimum / 1,350kg with driver pairing (regulations)

* Subject to publication of the official results by the FIA. 

NEWS: Scion FR-S (Toyota GT86) Tuned Versions Rock SEMA

What sort of Scion FR-S (USA Toyota GT86) would you create with a $15,000 budget and three months? Well, three lucky USA tuners got the opportunity to do just that and created three very different versions for the SEMA show, on right now. See them all and read the fully story on the excellent Toyota blog: http://blog.toyota.co.uk/scion-fr-s-tuners-to-rock-sema.
And stay tuned here on the blog and new look www.roadmagazine.co.uk website tomorrow, for our own GT86/BRZ special issue of Road Magazine, featuring three fabulous UK-tuned versions. And see more images and info backstage at www.facebook.com/roadmagblog.

And read what we thought of standard and tuned GT86's and BRZ's in the latest FREE issue of Road Magazine: http://issuu.com/roadonlinemagazine/docs/road_30_small/1

NEWS: Subaru FREE Winter Inspection

Subaru are generously offering owners a free-of-charge vehicle inspection and top-up of essential fluids this Winter via their dealer network, to "ensure Subaru owners stay mobile in poor conditions."
Recent research from the AA suggests that 80% of roadside breakdowns could be avoided if fluid levels were checked and topped-up regularly, and Subaru is offering this service to customers, absolutely free. The inspection, carried out by trained Subaru technicians, includes checking tyre pressures, and topping up engine and gearbox oil, the engine coolant and screen wash. A full visual health check will also ensure that cars are operating to the best of their abilities.
Haydn Davies, Marketing Director of Subaru UK, commented: “Winter brings more hazardous driving conditions, with cold temperatures, damp or icy roads and poor visibility. Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system is already designed to keep our customers as safe as possible whatever the weather, while an enviable reliability record helps keep owners mobile, too. At the same time we like our dealers to have regular contact with our customers so we hope many of them will make use of this latest offer.”
Subaru UK’s latest offer for the season comes on top of the opportunity to store wheels and tyres at the dealer over winter, as part of the ground-breaking ETC aftersales package.
To find out more about Subaru’s winter health check and to find your nearest Subaru dealership, visit www.subaru.co.uk. Very nice eh?

NEWS: Silverstone Motorsport UK Show This Weekend

It's Silverstone MotorSport UK this weekend – 3rd & 4th November – aiming to promote all categories and types of national racing, in a packed show at the prestigious Silverstone Wing exhibition complex at Silverstone Circuit, the Home of British Motor Racing. And we've helped sponsor the event, to show our support for British motorsport in these difficult times. You going to show your support?

The organisers say: "Silverstone MotorSport UK has been designed to appeal specifically to those who are looking to get involved in club motorsport and provide individuals with the chance to meet manufacturers, clubs, teams and suppliers to discuss their next racing steps. If you are new to motorsport and looking to get involved there are no shortage of places to start!"

Kart fans will be well catered for with The British Superkart Association, who run the MSA British Superkart Championship and the British Superkart Racing Club, who organise the British GP in attendance. And for those not looking to go down the karting route, some of the biggest names in specialist, sports car and kit car manufacturers will be showcasing their latest cars, including Marcos Sportscars and MCR. In the “Kit Car Pavilion,” you’ll find a host of manufacturers including DJ Sportscars and AK Sportscars and magazines Total Kit Car and Kit Car Magazine.
Clubs will be well represented too, with the 750 Motor Club, Monoposto Racing Club, Red Dragon Race & Track Club, 360 Motor Racing Club, MG Car Club, and the Hovercraft Club of Great Britain coming down. And, in addition to the racing clubs, there will be a number of championships showcasing their championships, including Classic Formula Ford, RGB Champsionship, Formula Vee, Sport Specials, Fueltopia, MR2 Cup, Subaru Cup, Nippon Challenge and BMW Compact Cup.
And there will be a large display of trade stands to pick products from too.
Silverstone MotorSport UK will also feature a ‘live’ stage presented by www.theCheckeredFlag.co.uk and Motors TV and we will be interviewing a number of 2012 champions from a range of motorsports.
On the day admission is £15 per adult ticket, or £37.50 for a family of four (two adults and two children). Concessions apply. Or save money by booking in advance at www.motorsportshow.co.uk
All Motor Racing Club members benefit from a 33% reduction on the admission charge (just £10 instead of the standard on-the-door ticket price of £15) on production of their MSA Licence or club membership. Parking for all show visitors is FREE.
Keep up with the latest show news online at www.motorsportshow.co.uk, www.twitter.com/SMUKshow and www.facebook.com/SilverstoneMotorsportUk

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: Road Magazine Website Re-Design

Big thanks to Steve at www.skiddmark.com and www.fitchmedia.com for the fresh new look we've got for our Road Magazine website. Check it out at: www.roadmagazine.co.uk. It's not completely finished yet, but the backbone is there – designed to make it easier for you to find all of the 30+ back issues of our ace FREE monthly magazine, by topic, direct off the home page. Just click on the image that sucks you in to enjoy each FREE magazine – there's something there for every petrol head! And you'll find it easier to link to our SoMe sites too, with a live feed of both the blog and Twitter feeds, and links to our ace Facebook page (like us!): www.facebook.com/roadmagblog. Plus, there's information about advertising with us, which is great value and highly targeted. And you can see the biogs of Team Road, to find out who brings you all this great stuff, FOC.
Please do share the website, blog and SoMe links with your petrol heads brothers and sisters. In return, we'll give you a quality monthly magazine, daily blog and rammed Twitter feed and Facebook page FREE! Suweet!