British GP this weekend

Michael Shumacher jumps for joy after winning his 50th Grand Prix

With Michael Schumacher’s 50th win at the French GP, will he equal Alain Prost’s record this weekend at Silverstone? The way things have been going for BMW Williams, I would not be surprised to see the younger Schumacher brother on the top step of the podium. In France, Ralf looked like an all the way winner until the lengthy pit stop which dropped him behind Michael.

Many are predicting a Montoya victory, but I’m not so sure. His finishing record is not good compared to Ralf, which makes me feel he is probably a little hard on the cars, being more used to the robust CART machines. Another driver who had an abysmal finishing record was Sir Stirling Moss. If he’d actually finished a few more races he would have won that world championship crown that always evaded him. Remember that to finish first, first you have to finish. Or as Ron Dennis (McLaren) would say, “To finish first, first you have to be Finnish!”

Join me “trackside” in front of the big screen at Shenanigans. Live coverage begins at 6.45 pm, but get there early for a good seat. I always go and have the carvery dinner and get ready for the action.

Autotrivia Quiz

Last week I wrote that the White Triplex was an 81 litre monster that took the World Land Speed Record in 1928 at 207 mph. The driver, Ray Keech, got out and said that no money would ever induce him to drive it again. The question was who was the next driver and what happened to him?

The next driver was Lee Bible, whom one supposes must have been a religious chappie with that sort of name. Bible took the White Triplex with its three Liberty aero engines to Daytona in 1929, but was killed when he swerved into a sand dune. The LSR title was a dangerous pursuit in those days. You could swear to that on a stack of bibles!

Name this car

So to this week. Take a look at this photo. The car was released in 1981 and came with a 3 litre fuel injected engine or later a 3.9 litre developing 210 bhp. It was hideously expensive, but a great car. What was it?

For the Automania FREE beer this week, be the first correct answer to fax 427 596 or email [email protected]

TTCC Round 2 this weekend

The local touring cars are on again this weekend too at the Bira Circuit. There will be the usual gaggle of Honda Civics, of varying capacities driven by drivers of varying capabilities. The “class act” of the field is Toyota Team Thailand driver Natavud, but I notice that the regs have been changed somewhat to try and peg the flying Toyota back. The Bira circuit is around Km marker 14 on Highway 36 coming from the ISR end heading towards Rayong. Get there around noon.

Maserati 3200 GT

One of the outstanding vehicles at the Bangkok International Motor Show was the Maserati 3200 GT. This is one vehicle I definitely would have liked to put my backside in, but alas, there’s no such thing as a Maser ‘demo’ in this country. However, it is a different story in Australia, where the distributor for these vehicles is an old school mate of mine - who has done real well, I hasten to add. My other old Aussie chum, John Weinthal, put his backside in it a couple of weeks ago and sent over this report attached to an email which said, “Iain, this one had you written all over it.” After reading the road test, I agree with him, so here are the Words from Weinthal.

Maserati 3200 GT

“Few car companies have a heritage to match that of Maserati. The Italian car company’s first real car - the Tipo 56 - won the esteemed Targa Florio in Sicily in 1926. In 1927 the young company won the Italian Constructor’s Championship.

“Subsequent motor sport victories have included a world speed record in 1929, twice winning the Indy 500, the World Driver’s Championship with Juan Manuel Fangio in 1954 and 1957, providing the engines with which John Surtees and Jochen Rindt came second an third in the 1966 World Championship driver Cooper-Maseratis. Notable Australian Maserati racers included Stan Jones, the father of world champion Alan Jones, and Lex Davison.

“Beyond motor sport Maserati has always produced a range of exotic sporting machinery - usually notable for their style as well as the formidable performance capabilities.

“But Maserati has always been an exclusive marque. Their peak production was just 733 cars back in 1968. The company has variously been independently owned by the Maserati family, Citroen, Alejandro de Tomaso and, since 1993, by the giant Italian company Fiat. Since 1997 Ferrari and Maserati have been sister companies under the same management within the Fiat Group.

“Not all Maseratis have been noted for their style; the boxy shaped models of the past two decades in particular. Today, all is said to be different, and a short spell with the latest Maserati this week certainly suggested an entirely new reputation would be carved for the Italian Supercar maker.

“Today’s prime Maserati product is the 3200 GT four seater sports coupe. At the equivalent of 4.6 million baht in Australia, it competes for the chequebook unimpaired with those who might also be looking at a Porsche, a Jaguar XKR or possibly a second hand Ferrari.

“And the Maserati has plenty to distinguish itself from each of them while making a strong case for the buyer’s nod. Firstly, in spite of its supremely elegant coupe styling this is a real four-seater. The real armchairs are real seats for real adults with good headroom and legroom for people up to about 185cm or just under six feet.

“Secondly, the Maserati delivers the most uncompromised sporting drive of any of them. This is a car for driving first, with relaxed luxurious cruising a true, but certainly secondary, bonus.

“Power - some 271 kW or 370 horsepower and 362 lb ft of torque - comes from a lightweight, quad cam, twin turbocharged, 3.2 litre V8. Suspension, brakes, handling and steering are no-compromise affairs offering magnificent feedback and supreme confidence under all conditions. There is traction control, which can be switched off, ABS braking and air bags, naturally.

“The ultra low profile tyres - 40 on the front and 35 on the rear - certainly deliver total communication with the road; you can almost count the pebbles as you pass over them.

“We drove a four speed automatic 3200GT which may seem an anachronism but with such power and torque on hand, and performance advantage of the optional six-speed manual would be all but immeasurable. Interestingly, the auto transmission is made in Australia by BTR and shipped to Italy.

“The chrome free, elegantly curved exterior styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro of Italdesign is matched by an interior laden with superbly crafted leather and other materials. There are few frills - no cruise control, computerised information system, sun roof or auto wipers or lighting. This is a car for drivers, first and foremost.

“Passengers share the experience while marvelling at the ease with which wholly illegal speeds are attained, sustained and effortlessly maintained through sweeping undulating bends.

“The Maserati will not appeal to all who have 4.6 million to spend. It may have too raw an edge for some. Others may consider the consistent soundtrack from the exhaust and road surface - to others it will be sheer opera; the opera of Bologna in Northern Italy where today more than AUD 400 million is being spent on a new factory atop the AUD 300 million Ferrari has already poured into making this the most practical and no doubt most reliable Maserati ever.

“Late this year the 3500 Coupe will be joined by a convertible sibling - I look forward to driving that too from Queensland’s home of Maserati, Ferrari and Citroen - John Cant Motors at Toowong in Brisbane.”

Thank you, John for driving the car for me, and say G’Day to John Cant for me next time you see him.

Child Safety important at GeeEmm

Chevrolet Sales in Thailand, with their 26 branches, have begun a Child Safety promotion to celebrate the one year anniversary of the locally produced Zafira. Launched with a party which saw 3000 people in the dealerships, the Child Occupant Safety, called Khun Noo Plod Pai Nai Yan Nont, is aimed at being an educational programme for Thais so that the importance of child safety is understood. Hopefully, this will improve the usage of child restraints in cars, but since adult restraints are also poorly utilized, it may take some time, but hats off to the General for doing something positive.

Wait for the new Citrotapug

By the time you read this, Peugeot-Citroen and Toyota Motor Corporation will have signed an agreement to jointly produce some very small, low cost vehicles for Europe. Toyota, the world’s 3rd largest car manufacturer, has had very little success in penetrating Europe, where it has only 3.5% of the market. By teaming up with the more successful (in Europe) Peugeot-Citroen group to produce a common platform for the new econocar, both groups stand to gain with the reduction in start-up costs.

The new car is to be designed primarily for European markets and will be priced lower than the current small cars on the market, offer a high level of safety features and achieve excellent environmental standards, it is claimed. The entry level in the market will be below the Toyota Yaris (Echo in some markets) or the Peugeot 106 and 300,000 cars a year is the projected target.