Thailand’s Car of The Year (COTY) awards
I was out at the Bira Circuit last weekend while they were
testing the contenders for the COTY awards. The cars were
lumped into various categories, with judges drawn from places
such as Chulalongkorn University.
For me, three cars stood out. The newly released Yaris, which
looks very much like an A Series Mercedes Benz from the side
(at one third of the price), the new Honda Civic which looks
better and better every time I see one, and the new Mazda MX5
which still has managed to look like the first one, but
incorporating the aggressive looks around the wheel arches of
the RX8.
Formula V6
Asia by Renault
Asian motor racing gained another formula last
week, with the announcement in Hong Kong of the launch of
Formula V6 Asia by Renault, a brand new series set to change
the face of the sport in the region and massively increase the
odds of Asian racers reaching Formula One.
David
Sonenscher (left) and Jean Paul Mari
For the first time, Southeast Asian-based drivers will be able
to progress from karting, through the ranks of junior single
seaters, such as Formula BMW, and step up to a program
specifically designed to groom them for the pinnacle of
international motorsport - Formula One.
Speaking at the launch, Malaysian-based Motorsport Asia’s
Chief Executive Officer David Sonenscher (himself an ex-Asian
open wheel racing champion) said he believes both the concept
behind the series, and the timing of its introduction, are
good news for the sport: “Until now, drivers reaching that
crucial point in their careers where they have successfully
mastered junior single seater racing and are ready to take the
next step have had to move to Europe to do so. This can be
extremely difficult, if not impossible, for several reasons
such as cost, on-going education, or their sponsor’s
reluctance to follow them outside Asia. Formula V6 Asia by
Renault will give these drivers a chance to develop in the
very highest category of single seater racing below Formula
One without leaving the region. It puts a whole new face on
the sport here in Asia, will give a far greater number of our
drivers a realistic shot at Formula One, and I am sure will
encourage a lot more youngsters to consider motorsport as a
career.”
France-based Renault Sport Technologies’ Motor Sport and
Communications Director Jean Paul Mari, also in Hong Kong for
the launch said, “I am convinced that this is a genuine
opportunity to develop motorsport in this part of the world
and to create a real driver development programme leading to
Formula One. The Asian market now needs a top-of-the-range
single seater category to meet the expectations of drivers
moving across from Formula BMW, Formula Renault and Formula 3.
The car has all the necessary features: carbon fibre structure
and HANS (Head and Neck Support System), left-foot braking,
carbon brakes and steering wheel-mounted sequential
gearshift.”
The car, which can reach top speeds of up to 275kph, is
powered by a 370 bhp, 3.5 litre 24 valve V6 engine, and is
equipped with “ship to shore” radio, electronic-display
steering wheels and data acquisition. All cars will use
Michelin Radial tyres.
The provisional calendar for the inaugural Formula V6 Asia by
Renault season will be comprised of 12 rounds at six venues,
beginning at Malaysia’s state-of-the-art Sepang International
Circuit on April 15-16. From there, the series will form part
of the Asian Festival of Speed (AFOS) weekend at South
Korean’s new race facility at Ansan on May 13-14, before
returning to Sepang for a further two rounds on June 24-25.
The second of the three AFOS events the series will join is at
Indonesia’s Sentul Circuit on July 22-23, followed by two
rounds at Zhuhai International Circuit on August 12-13. The
final two rounds will be held as part of the AFOS weekend at a
second new race track in Taichung, Taiwan on October 21-22.
Unfortunately, Thailand misses out on this formula, but
perhaps next year?
The fleet of cars which will race in Asia successfully took
part in a European championship for two seasons. The fusion of
the V6 championship with the World Series by Nissan presented
the opportunity to create Asia’s most senior single seater
series ever. Renault Sport has completely renovated all the
cars, and the engines, gearboxes, shock absorbers and chassis
have all be reconditioned to the highest standards.
Motorsport Asia, the company behind the highly successful AFOS
racing weekends which include the Asian Touring Car
Championship, the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, and Formula BMW
Asia, is the region’s leading motorsport outfit. The new
partnership will marry Renault’s impressive motor racing
pedigree with Motorsport Asia’s regional know-how and
experience.
All-Japanese line-up for
new F1 team
The new (and hastily cobbled together) Super Aguri
F1 team has finally confirmed its 2006 driver line-up with
Takuma Sato and Yuji Ide, another Japanese compatriot, taking
the two race-seats.
Sato
Since the inception of the team, reports have been doing the
rounds suggesting that not only would team boss Aguri Suzuki
sign Sato as his number one driver but he would also opt for
an all-Japanese line-up. Those reports have now proven to be
true.
Sato, who was dropped by BAR (now called Honda) at the end of
last season, is delighted to have the chance to race for the
team in its debut F1 season, and to maintain his association
with Honda, particularly since he has blown up more Honda
engines than anyone on the planet.
“Everyone at Super Aguri has done a great job to make the team
happen in such a short period of time (they are using three
year old Arrows chassis). I am extremely excited to be working
with the team and especially with Aguri-san who has achieved
huge success in motorsport,” said Sato.
The second driver, Ide, who was runner up in the 2005 Formula
Nippon Series, will be making his F1 debut in what he says
will be a “very exciting and challenging” year for himself and
the Super Aguri team.
“I would like to thank Suzuki-san for giving me the
opportunity to drive in Formula One. I drove an F1 car for the
first time yesterday and I was nervous, but very excited. The
car is powerful!”
Team boss Suzuki added, “I am grateful that these highly
experienced drivers are joining my team. Although I expect a
tough year as it is our first in Formula One, with these two
drivers I will put all my efforts into creating a positive
outcome.”
Considering they are going to be running ‘old’ cars and
second-string Honda engines, there will be a new name at the
tail of the field. The biggest problem for the top teams will,
however, be Sato. Trying to get past without getting a helping
hand into the guard rails!
Autotrivia Quiz
Last week I mentioned there was a vehicle built in
the USA which you could buy with amphibious drive gear as an
optional extra. I asked what was its name? It was called the
Monocoque Box, which had a transverse 1.6 litre Honda engine
running Keihin carburetion (and sounds like an enlarged
version of the Honda CBR engine), four wheel drive, two seats
and a front opening door. It looked very much like a box too!
So to this week. From which country did the mechanicals for
the first Morris Cowleys (1915-1919) come? This one is easy!
For the Automania FREE beer this week, be the first correct
answer to email [email protected]
Good luck!
New Lexus ES packs more
power, options
Automotive News in the US has given the new
entry-level Lexus the thumbs up after its release at the
Chicago motor show this month. The 2007 Lexus ES 350 lands in
dealerships in April, packing an impressive array of
technology for a near-luxury car.
According to Automotive News, even the motor mounts, a common
off the shelf item for most automakers, are high-tech. The
mounts have electronic solenoids that reduce vibration when
the engine is started.
Lexus
ES 350
The front wheel drive ES 350, which replaces the ES 330, is a
softer, smoother, quieter sedan aimed at an older crowd than
the IS. Though the car is based on the underpinnings of the
Toyota Avalon, the ES 350’s styling has a family resemblance
to other Lexus sedans; however, the power-train, interior and
suspension tuning are unique to the ES 350.
Some of the ES 350’s technical highlights include a six-speed
automatic transmission, a first for a front wheel drive car
from Toyota, and a 272-hp, aluminium, 3.5 litre V6 that has
variable valve timing, delivers 0 to 100 kph performance in
less than seven seconds and gets an estimated 21 mpg in the
city and 30 mpg on the highway. Other techo items are antilock
brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake
assist, plus stability and traction control.
Optional equipment includes a three-panel glass roof,
radar-based adaptive cruise control, rain-sensing windshield
wipers and a parking-assist system that warns the driver when
the car gets too close to an object.
At this stage the Lexus ES 350 is only being produced in left
hand drive, but if the car is popular, Toyota will reconsider
this. To my eye, the car is somewhat drab, and brings to mind
a two year old Camry design, but it will be interesting to see
it in the flesh.
How long it takes to
build an Effwun car?
Ever wondered just how long it takes to design and
construct a brand-new F1 car? McLaren have published a ‘design
timeline’ of their new MP4-21 as it evolved from a mere
concept to a state of the art motor car ready for the 2006
season.
First engine design meeting: August 2004
Engine specification first issue: October 2004
Layout work started on MP4-21: April 2005
First design meeting: April 2005
Gearbox simulation: Mid April 2005
Car specification first issue: May 2005
First scheming of gearbox: May 2005
First dyno test for V8 engine: June 2005
Wind tunnel work commences: Early July 2005
First drawing for gearbox: July 2005
Datum sheet issue, final dimensions: August 2005
First track test for V8 engine: September 2005
Gearbox production begun: September 2005
Chassis manufacturing begun: October 2005
Car mock-up ready: Chassis – November 2005; Initial engine –
November 2005; Final engine – December 2005
First chassis ready for bonding: December 2005
FIA test on first chassis: December 2005
First car build started: December 2005
First car build finished: January 2006
First track test of MP4-21: 23rd January 2006
Cars depart McLaren Technology Center for first race: Friday
3rd March 2006.
Ignoring the ‘pre-event’ planning, work on the new car began
in earnest in April 2005, and it turned its first wheel in
January 2006. That’s about nine months, as very human-like
gestation period!