Colin-on-Cars - Cat and mouse in the desert

South African men and machines starred as Dakar Rally 2023 got under way with a short 13 kilometre prologue along Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea beach at the event’s Sea Park start base on Saturday.

Traditionally seen as a game of Cat & Mouse, many consider Dakar’s Prologue results as merely academic. Faster crews may play for a better road position in Sunday’s opening stage, while others just go for broke in search of an easy stage result.

2022 winners, Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah and Mathieu Baumel opened the road in their Toyota Gazoo Racing Hilux DKR T1+. They were however pipped by second crew out, 9-time World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb chasing that elusive Dakar win alongside Fabian Lurquin in their factory Prodrive Hunter.

It took a while for the rest of the big guns to filter through, but 14th away, Frenchmen  Stéphane Peterhansel and Eric Boulanger slotted their petrol-electric Audi RS Q e-tron between Loeb and Attiyah. Four cars later, Mattias Ekstrom and Erik Bergkvist’s Audi then put a second on Loeb to take the win and claim pole position for Dakar 2023.

By the time the dust had settled, it was Ekstrom who topped the car Prologue from Loeb, Peterhansel, and Al Attiyah. Dakar veteran Guerlain Chicherit ended fourth in his Prodrive Hunter from Carlos Sainz’ third Audi, Saudi home hero Yazeed al Rajhi’s Toyota Hilux and Jakub Przygonski in the quickest of the Minis.

Of the South Africans, the Gazoo Toyotas of young guns Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings, and Dakar hero Giniel de Villiers and Dennis Murphy will start Dakar 2023 10th and 12th , respectively. Quickest two wheel drive car on the day, Brian Baragwanath and Leonard Cremer will provisionally set off 15th in the all-new biturbo V6 Century CR6-T on Sunday. They came home 32 seconds off Ekstrom’s pace.

South Africans also starred in the Motorcycle Prologue. Australian duo Toby Price was quickest overall  for KTM from Daniel Sanders’ GasGas, and Botswana Hero rider Ross Branch. Joan Barreda’s Honda, Kevin Benavides’ KTM and Joaquim Rodriguez’ Hero followed. 

SA riders however owned the R2 bike class with first, second and fourth in the amateur rankings. Sand specialist Dakar rookie Michael Docherty piloted his HT Husqvarna to a 9 second R2 win over teammate and Malle Moto Original leader Charan Moore, with Bradley Cox fourth on his BAS KTM. Docherty placed ninth overall, Moore 16th and Cox 26th.

SA rider Stevan Wilken came home 41st in R2 on his HT Husqvarna, while Malle Moto duo, Stuart Gregory ended 76th and iron lady Kirsten Landman 79th among the amateur bikers. Dakar’s Malle Moto Original class sees riders riding without any support and servicing their own machines, pitching their tents, and racing Dakar solo throughout.

Opening the road in the morning, Alexandre Giroud took a one second quad victory over Brazilian Marcello Medeiros and Spanish rookie Daniel Vaques. The Side by Sides and Trucks were still racing at the time of writing.

Sunday’s real opening 367 Stage 1 should start to sort the men from the boys. Dakar 2023 will race 5,000 km through the Arabian Desert to 15 January. The real action Starts Sunday. Watch this space!

Words: www.motorsportmedia.co.za

https://bit.ly/3C9BXaD

Colin-on-Cars - What UK drivers think

Polling the views of more than 6 000 cars owners, the 2022 Honest John Satisfaction Index in the United Kingdom places Lexus at the top of the pile as the UK’s most satisfying car brand.

Each year HonestJohn.co.uk readers are asked to rate their car in a number of important areas including fuel economy, reliability, practicality and safety, as well as the car’s performance and how comfortable and easy it is to drive.

Lexus topped the reliability category and performed well across the board with an overall satisfaction rating of 92,37%, beating last year’s winner Dacia to the top spot (92,16%), with Tesla a fraction behind (92,12%).

Porsche (90,91%) and Jaguar (90,53 %) complete the top five of this year's index.

Most satisfying

The Hyundai Tucson is the highest rated car in the 2022 Satisfaction Index, with a score of 96,64%.

Available as a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or pure electric car, it was praised for its performance, ease to drive, and reliability, backed by Hyundai’s five-year warranty. 

Worst for owner satisfaction was the Mercedes-Benz GLC Class (2015-2022 model), singled out for its high repair costs and poor fuel economy, receiving an overall rating of 80,98%.

It was followed by the Toyota RAV4 (2013-2019 model) in second place with 85,07% and the Ford Fiesta (2013-2017 model) in third with 85,62%.

Lexus is the best car brand for reliability for the fourth year running, with an average score of 9,89 out of 10.

Suzuki takes second place (9,75), with Subaru finishing third with an average score of 9,72. 

At the other end of the reliability table, Land Rover receives the lowest average rating - a disappointing 8,93 and, while, Peugeot also scored 8,93 out of 10, takes second spot by the smallest of a fraction. Fiat completes the bottom three with an average of 8,94. 

The Lexus NX (2014-2021) is the UK's most reliable car with an outstanding average of 9,98. The Hyundai Tucson is ranked second with an impressive 9,96, followed by the Kia XCeed (9,96).

The Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class (2015-2022) languishes at the bottom of the reliability rankings with an average score of 8,52, followed by the Peugeot 3008, which scored 6,61 out of 10 and the Ford Kuga, which scored 8,70.

Images: HonestJohn

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Colin-on-Cars - Ready to race

With the prologue for the world’s toughest rally-raid race just five days away, the Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) Dakar Team has assembled its three GR DKR Hilux T1+ race cars at the Sea Camp, north of the Saudi Arabian town of Yanbu.

The next order of business is a thorough shakedown to confirm that everything works as expected, before attending to the final checks and administration for Dakar 2023.

The 11 km prologue for the race, which is used to determine the starting orders for the first stage, will get the action under way during the afternoon of 31 December 2022, before the race itself kicks off on New Year’s Day 2023. Fourteen competitive stages will follow, with a Rest Day following Stage 8.

For TGR, the 2023 Dakar Rally will offer an opportunity to defend the crown it won, when Qatar’s Nasser Al-Attiyah and French co-driver, Mathieu Baumel, brought the mighty GR DKR Hilux T1+ home in first place at the end of the 2022 edition of the race. This was Nasser and Mathieu’s second victory for the team, and they will be aiming for a repeat performance early in the new year.

Teammate Giniel de Villiers, from South Africa, has one of the best Dakar records in history, having competed in twenty Dakars to date. He won the race in 2009, and has been on the podium seven additional times. He has only finished outside the Top 10 once in twenty races, and will be aiming for another solid result, again with co-driver Dennis Murphy, also from South Africa, beside him.

For the South African pairing of Henk Lategan and co-driver Brett Cummings, their first two Dakar Rallies together proved learning experiences. In their first outing, in 2021, the pair crashed heavily during Stage 5 of the rally, resulting in a broken collarbone for Lategan. In 2022 they bounced back, driving at a more manageable pace that saw them take two stage victories, though their 31st place finish belied the pace of the young pairing.

Dakar 2023 promises to be one of the toughest yet, consisting of 14 stages rather than the dozen that has become the norm over the last few editions of the race. Not only that, but the route also ventures further into the so-called Empty Quarter of Saudi Arabia than ever before. Add to that the Rest Day, which comes well after the mid-point of the race, as well as the removal of mid-stage rest-and-refuel points, and it is clear that the upcoming rally will be tough.

With that said, the GR DKR Hilux T1+ has seen constant improvement since the last Dakar, winning the inaugural W2RC in the hands of Nasser and Mathieu, and taking Giniel to yet another title in the South African Rally-Raid Championship, which serves as one of the test series for the team. With refinements to the car’s quality, reliability and durability, the team is confident that it has built an even better car than the one that won the race in 2022.

The route for the upcoming Dakar Rally starts at the so-called Sea Camp, on the North-Western coastline of Saudi Arabia. Both the Prologue and Stage 1 will be staged from here, before Stage 2 takes the rally towards the stunning rocks and canyons around Alula. Next up is Stage 3 towards Ha’il, where the bivouac will remain in place for three days before shifting to Al Duwadimi for two days. Stage 8 will see the rally reach the Saudi capital of Riyadh, for a much-needed Rest Day.

From here, the route continues in an Eastward direction towards Haradh, before shifting into the Empty Quarter for the final few days of the event. This year’s Marathon Stage – where the crews race away from the bivouac to an unsupported camp in the desert, before racing back the following day – will take place near the end of the race, and may well change the outcome of the event.

The final stages of the race will take the crews from Shaybah to Al-Hofuf, and on to the city of Dammam, on the Arabian Gulf. While the closing three stages of the rally all feature distances under 200km, the organisers have cautioned that these stages may well prove the toughest of the event, and that competitors should not take them lightly based purely on their relatively short distances.

Dakar 2023 is scheduled to finish on January 15, in the city of Dammam. This will be the Dakar’s first visit to the city, and also the first time that the race spans across the entire Saudi Arabian landscape from coast to coast.

https://bit.ly/3WGqdo4

Colin-on-Cars - Ready to tace

With the prologue for the world’s toughest rally-raid race just five days away, the Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) Dakar Team has assembled its three GR DKR Hilux T1+ race cars at the Sea Camp, north of the Saudi Arabian town of Yanbu.

The next order of business is a thorough shakedown to confirm that everything works as expected, before attending to the final checks and administration for Dakar 2023.

The 11 km prologue for the race, which is used to determine the starting orders for the first stage, will get the action under way during the afternoon of 31 December 2022, before the race itself kicks off on New Year’s Day 2023. Fourteen competitive stages will follow, with a Rest Day following Stage 8.

For TGR, the 2023 Dakar Rally will offer an opportunity to defend the crown it won, when Qatar’s Nasser Al-Attiyah and French co-driver, Mathieu Baumel, brought the mighty GR DKR Hilux T1+ home in first place at the end of the 2022 edition of the race. This was Nasser and Mathieu’s second victory for the team, and they will be aiming for a repeat performance early in the new year.

Teammate Giniel de Villiers, from South Africa, has one of the best Dakar records in history, having competed in twenty Dakars to date. He won the race in 2009, and has been on the podium seven additional times. He has only finished outside the Top 10 once in twenty races, and will be aiming for another solid result, again with co-driver Dennis Murphy, also from South Africa, beside him.

For the South African pairing of Henk Lategan and co-driver Brett Cummings, their first two Dakar Rallies together proved learning experiences. In their first outing, in 2021, the pair crashed heavily during Stage 5 of the rally, resulting in a broken collarbone for Lategan. In 2022 they bounced back, driving at a more manageable pace that saw them take two stage victories, though their 31st place finish belied the pace of the young pairing.

Dakar 2023 promises to be one of the toughest yet, consisting of 14 stages rather than the dozen that has become the norm over the last few editions of the race. Not only that, but the route also ventures further into the so-called Empty Quarter of Saudi Arabia than ever before. Add to that the Rest Day, which comes well after the mid-point of the race, as well as the removal of mid-stage rest-and-refuel points, and it is clear that the upcoming rally will be tough.

With that said, the GR DKR Hilux T1+ has seen constant improvement since the last Dakar, winning the inaugural W2RC in the hands of Nasser and Mathieu, and taking Giniel to yet another title in the South African Rally-Raid Championship, which serves as one of the test series for the team. With refinements to the car’s quality, reliability and durability, the team is confident that it has built an even better car than the one that won the race in 2022.

The route for the upcoming Dakar Rally starts at the so-called Sea Camp, on the North-Western coastline of Saudi Arabia. Both the Prologue and Stage 1 will be staged from here, before Stage 2 takes the rally towards the stunning rocks and canyons around Alula. Next up is Stage 3 towards Ha’il, where the bivouac will remain in place for three days before shifting to Al Duwadimi for two days. Stage 8 will see the rally reach the Saudi capital of Riyadh, for a much-needed Rest Day.

From here, the route continues in an Eastward direction towards Haradh, before shifting into the Empty Quarter for the final few days of the event. This year’s Marathon Stage – where the crews race away from the bivouac to an unsupported camp in the desert, before racing back the following day – will take place near the end of the race, and may well change the outcome of the event.

The final stages of the race will take the crews from Shaybah to Al-Hofuf, and on to the city of Dammam, on the Arabian Gulf. While the closing three stages of the rally all feature distances under 200km, the organisers have cautioned that these stages may well prove the toughest of the event, and that competitors should not take them lightly based purely on their relatively short distances.

Dakar 2023 is scheduled to finish on January 15, in the city of Dammam. This will be the Dakar’s first visit to the city, and also the first time that the race spans across the entire Saudi Arabian landscape from coast to coast.

https://bit.ly/3WGqdo4

Colin-on-Cars - Fastest Xmas tree

Breaking records is a very human condition and the reason the Guinness Book of Records exists but, down Texas way a new, unofficial record has been set for the fastest Christmas tree.

Hennessey, the Texas-based hypercar manufacturer and high-performance vehicle creator, has attained a new unofficial holiday record, having driven its Venom 1000 Mustang GT500 to a velocity of 307 km/h with an illuminated Christmas tree strapped to the roof.

Based on the most powerful factory-produced Mustang of all time, the stock Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 boasts a hand-built supercharged 5,2-litre V8 with a 2,65-litre Roots-type supercharger nestled on top.

Hennessey's Texas team upgrades the iconic pony car with a high-flow induction system, new fuel rails and injectors, and an air/oil separation system. In addition, fittings, lines, belts, and tensioners are upgraded, and the dual-clutch transmission is recalibrated for its high-output role.

The result is the Venom 1000 Mustang GT500, which is rated at 745 kW and 1 156 Nm on 93 octane pump fuel.

Piloted by professional race car driver Spencer Geswein under clear blue Texas skies with temperatures in the mid-50s, the road-legal Venom 1000 Mustang GT500 achieved the record speed on the closed circuit without drama.

This is despite the significant additional drag (and holiday cheer) produced by a festal light-adorned evergreen. The vehicle was not altered explicitly for the run, except for removing the factory under hood ‘rain tray’ to improve airflow.

John Hennessey, company Founder and CEO, says: "Our annual ‘Christmas Tree Run’ serves two roles for our growing company. First, testing our performance at a proving grounds is a great opportunity to validate our engineering – the Venom 1000 delivers impressive numbers. Second, adding the seasonal twist allows our hard-working team to end the year with some high-speed fun before they slow down and enjoy their families for the holidays."

The ‘Christmas Tree Run’ has become a Hennessey tradition, with the team carefully choosing the proper pairing between vehicle and evergreen – if nothing else than to ensure needle stripping speeds.

In 2017, the company used a 2018 Dodge Challenger Hellcat Widebody to take a tree to 280 km/h – establishing a benchmark. The number was broken in 2019 when its HPE1000 Jeep Trackhawk hit 291 km/h with a hapless Douglas Fir strapped on its roof rails and last year, Hennessey cracked 294 km/h with a tuned Audi RS 6 Avant (borrowed from John Hennessey's wife!) with a fresh Christmas tree tied to its roof.

https://bit.ly/3Vgzhik

Colin-on-Cars - Hero in the making

As the sun began to set over Cape Town at the weekend, the newly-named Sarel van der Merwe corner at the Killarney circuit honouring the South African motor sport legend, saw another in the making as 18-year-old Kwanda Mokoena drove faultlessly to become the youngest-ever South African Endurance Champion.

Mokoena, partnered with another young SA hotshot Andrew Rackstraw and Audi factory driver Luca Engstler dominated proceedings in Cape Town after claiming pole position in their MJR Motorsport/Amandla Coal Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo2 and proceeded to lead from lights to flag, emerging three laps clear of title rival Tschops Sipuka, partnered with Xolile Letlaka and Stuart White in their Into Africa Mining Lamborghini Huracan GT3 who duly finished second overall.

Kwando Mokoena/Andrew Rackstraw

The Lamborghini suffered tyre issues in the opening stint with White unable to keep up with the flying Audi.

White set the fastest race lap as he dug deep to close down the gap, making it back on to the lead lap by mid-race. During a brief rain shower, which occurred moments after his pitstop, White was one second faster than the whole field as the young charger tried to close the gap.

The third championship contender Hein Lategan ended third in his Black Bull Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup with co-drivers Henk Lategan and Verissimo Tavares giving their all in their near-standard Porsche ending four laps down on the Lamborghini after a trouble-free race.

Hein and Henk Lategan

Fourth overall was a fantastic effort from Mo Mia/Lee Thompson (Toys-R-Us Porsche 911 GT3). The car’s left front corner was badly damaged during a pitlane accident during Friday night’s practice session; parts were ordered, arrived at 07h30 and the car was ready to race by 9am after a mammoth effort from the team.

Fifth overall was the Bucketlist Racing BMW 340i of Heinz Bose and Christopher and Anthony Pretorius in spite of suffering a broken control arm which the team had to make running repairs to keep the car running over the final half-hour.

Danie van Niekerk and Roberto/David Franco (Graphix Supply World Volkswagen Polo SupaCup) claimed a surprised class D win and sixth overall. Van Niekerk had to repair a right-rear wheel bearing which cost the team 30 minutes in the pits. Over the final 30 minutes of the race, Van Niekerk was involved in a huge fight with Johan de Bruyn’s similar Polo.

Heartbreak

The heartbreak story of the Killarney 9-Hour befell Karah Hill/Michael Stephen/Jurie Swart’s Kalex VW Polo. The trio were in a comfortable class lead and fifth overall for eight hours and 53 minutes when the left-front wheel bearing failed – with seven minutes of the race remaining!

The factory Volkswagen Polo GTi SupaCup of Daniel Rowe/Keagan Masters was well in the hunt until the halfway mark when a fuel pump fitting failure caused the car to stop on track. After being towed back and repaired, losing 11 laps, the pair clawed their way back up the order, finally finishing seventh and second in Class D.

The class E win went to the Backdraft-Lexus of Mark Owens, Trevor Graham and Richard van Heerde who lost a fuel pump an hour into the race and dropped from a two-lap lead. They fought hard to overturn their 15-lap deficit, edging the Team Qhubani Backdraft of Fikile Holomisa/Baphumze Rubuluza/Xolela Njumbunxa by 11 seconds. The Qhubani team drove the second half of the race stuck in fifth gear making their tenth overall all the more remarkable.

Mark Owens, Trevor Graham and Richard van Heerde

Phillip Meyer/Mark Harvey/Dean Wolson brought their PPLE Group/Adapt Backdraft home in a solid 12th overall having lost 25 minutes with numerous stops to bleed the brakes, ending a slender 21 seconds behind the 11th placed Gazoo Yaris after nine hours of hard racing.

The coveted Index of Performance Championship nearly slipped through Pesty Racing’s fingers as the Backdraft team of Harm and Barend Pretorius perfect run almost unravelled until a brief rain shower saw father Harm slither off the road, damaging a fuel overflow pipe and dislodging the fuel tank. Hasty repairs were made and the team duly claimed the Class E Championship as well as the Index silverware.

Another hard luck story belonged to the Team Retro Mates Backdraft of Meredith Willis/Michael Gaines/Manfred Schroder/Reg Sutton who was leading Class E when a left-front wheel worked loose in the fast turn four. The car was towed back to the pits and repaired, and the quad ended 14th.

Thwarted

Andrew Horne/Gerald Buys (Xena Chemicals Nash-VW) had high hopes for a strong result but were thwarted by a broken rose-joint which cost the pair 20 minutes, and later, they lost another 30 minutes  replacing a wishbone. From 33rd they fought their way back to end 15th overall.

Franco di Matteo/Julian Familiaris/Warren Lombard had an eventful weekend. Their Mobil 1 Mustang V8 suffered engine failure in practice and the team packed up before deciding – just 15 minutes before the start of the race – to rent a spare Backdraft. No practice, no overalls or helmet, the trio borrowed or bought what they needed. There was only time to add fuel, and starting last, they raced to 16th overall and seventh in class E.

The Dolphin Engineering-entered Juno-Nissan also had a character building weekend. The team discovered a gap between the engine and bell-housing which took an all-nighter to strip and repair. The car ran well until a driveshaft broke, which cost 75 minutes to repair.

The #213 Bucketlist Racing Volkswagen Polo of Rob Clark, Pieter Zeelie and Johan de Bruyn ended 18th after suffering a broken engine mounting that took 90 minutes to repair.

Jan Lammers

Francis Carruthers/Steve Humble/Jonathan Thomas (Pilbeam MP84) ran as high as second place after two hours but tumbled down to 19th position by flag fall after Carruthers suffered a right rear suspension failure at the newly-renamed Sarel Sweep (turn five) travelling over 180km/h, losing 35 minutes while the car was recovered.

The Toyota Altezza team of Sergio Alvares/Cristian Bouche/Paul de Re/Rufino Fontes from Mozambique ended 20th after numerous technical issues including a broken fuel pump which cost 20 minutes to repair followed by another 15 minute loss to trace and fix a broken wire.

Gianmaria Gabbiani/Alberto Huober/Mags Govender brought their Dues Backdraft home 21st after a gearbox repair dropped them out of the running.

Gearbox

The final classified runners were Craig Rapp, Robi Bernberg and Charles Ugo endured a weekend from hell. Ugo crashed at turn three which broke a gearbox and propshaft mounting which was repaired in 45 minutes. The team worked its way through four differentials, a gearbox, an engine and gearbox mounting on top of having to re-build the engine a week before the race.

Five teams competed in a one-hour dash which was won by Paul Hill (Kalex Aston Martin Vantage GT3), followed by Sun Moodley (Bigfoot Express Freight Mercedes-AMG GT3) five seconds adrift. Ray Farnham (Birkin 7-Opel) followed in third from Jan Willem (Ford Mustang) and Mike Verrier (Shelby CanAm).

Other leading retirements included Benjamin/Crisjan/Ben Morgenrood (Morgenrood Group Backdraft) who lost three hours replacing a broken differential. As the clock ticked down, Morgenrood peeled into the pits out of fuel. The service crew scrambled to fill the tank but ran out of time as the pit lane closes five minutes before the chequered flag, stranding the Backdraft at pit exit.

Danie van Niekerk and Roberto/David Franco

Five times Le-Mans winner Emanuele Pirro and his sons Cris and Goffredo retired with alternator failure while the Hennie Groenewald/Anthony Reid/Murray Shepherd machine retired with overheating issues. Le Mans winner Jan Lammers/Greg Mills/Tim Reddell succumbed to possible differential damage. 

Mikaeel Pitamber/Mark Cronje/Nick Adcock retired their AidCall 247 Ligier-Honda JS53 with gearbox failure after a rear wing broke off while running second overall. The wing is mounted to the gearbox so the whole rear-end of the car had to be disassembled.

Mike McLaughlin/Steve Clark retired their Backdraft Slingshot suffered suspension failure pitched the car into the wall at Sarel Sweep.

Mike Verrier/Tate Bishop/Kai van Zijl retired their VW Golf with a broken engine, while Ricky/Jimmy/Gianni Giannoccaro/Ant Blunden retired their G&H Transport Mazda MX-5 with a broken engine. 

Wayne Lotter/Steve Truter suffered a pit fire on Friday evening after a fuel system component broke. The car was towed away and remarkably returned to race, having replaced the burnt wiring and oil lines. After replacing wiring to the ECU and a crank sensor, the team withdrew.

https://bit.ly/3hffm5B

Colin-on-Cars - Enticing lineup from BMW

Although BMW M Motorsport has confirmed it will contest the 2023 Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli campaign, the final driver selection has not been announced – but could include South African ace, Sheldon van der Linde.

Other racers could include Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts who have joined the extensive list of BMW M works drivers. 

The 20-strong roster also includes Brazilian, Augusto Farfus, who clinched the IGTC drivers’ crown when BMW last entered the globe-trotting GT3 series in 2020, as well as Connor De Phillippi who shared victories with the Brazilian at Indianapolis and Kyalami, respectively.

Both wins were achieved with the previous generation M6.

Successor

Now its successor, the M4 GT3, will make its Mount Panorama debut with Team WRT early next year before the likes of Rowe Racing – which is contesting Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS – nominates additional IGTC entries at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa. Customer teams are also eligible to score points on BMW’s behalf at all of 2023’s Intercontinental rounds.

BMW M Motorsport’s busy 2023 schedule also features the Nurburgring 24 Hours and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

“After a successful 2022, including the title win in the DTM, we are shifting up another gear next year,” says Head of BMW M Motorsport, Andreas Roos. “We have improved what was already a very strong squad of works drivers with René Rast, Maxime Martin, Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts. 

“On the team side, we are continuing our collaborations, which have grown over many years, including with BMW M Team RLL, BMW M Team RMG and Rowe Racing. We also welcome BMW M Team WRT as a new BMW M Motorsport team. We are facing some exciting sporting challenges in 2023 and the years to come, for which we need the best teams and drivers. After all, the goal is to add to the success story of the BMW brand in motor racing.”

Further full-season IGTC manufacturers will be confirmed in due course, while the championship’s 2022 campaign concludes this weekend at the Gulf 12 Hours.

https://bit.ly/3BojGGl

Colin-on-Cars - Lower truck mass equals greater loads

Lower truck mass means greater loadability and this is key for fleet operators considering the fluctuating fuel prices and other cost pressures – not the least of which is the increasing interest rate.

Fuel expenditure, which makes up 80% of total operating costs and approximately 60% of the total cost of ownership, depending on the application, can be alleviated with the ability to carry more payload to maximise the productivity and efficiency of a fleet.

The UD Trucks Quon extra heavy truck range solves this problem by a reduction of weight in the physical truck that allows operators to carry more payload. Fewer trips mean less fuel is used.

“The Quon is a highly productive range of vehicles optimised for the business needs of today and tomorrow,” explains Reytjie Laubscher, Managing Director of UD Trucks Lichtenburg. “These days the key to efficient transport is increased payload. Not only will a lowered tare weight increase payload, but also the productivity and profitability of your operations.”

Reytjie Laubscher

Every component on the Quon has been refined to realise an overall lighter vehicle, while achieving gains in load-carrying capacity of up to 200 kg, depending on the model.

The Quon GW26 460 - TT HR, for instance, has a low tare weight of 8 418 kg. This is achieved by using disc brakes and high-tensile steel rails for the main frame to reduce vehicle weight. In addition, the reduced height of the main frame cross section further reduces weight while maintaining strength, to further improve the Quon’s loading performance.

Laubscher explains this, for instance, means with a reduced tare weight, an operator can now typically transport a 36,5-ton load of cargo legally using an interlink with a twin bin side tipper trailer. (Afrit specification used for this example)

“There is an increase in payload of about 700 kg on average on the new generation Quon High Roof Truck Tractor compared to any other competitor in the market. This is the ideal set-up for fleet owners that specialise, for instance, in the coal transport industry,” says Laubscher.

Improved ease of loading, bodybuilding efficiency and smoothness at creeping speeds for approaching loading docks, also reflect UD Trucks’ commitment to boosting productivity for fleet owners.

Optimal

Quon’s air suspension features an increased adjustment range. This enables optimal height adjustment for loading docks and connecting the trailers, with an adjustable width of +140 mm upward from the neutral position. The uneven load adjustment function automatically adjusts any lateral differences in height on trucks, which improves handling when loading from the side of the truck.

The new Quon range boasts a fuel-efficient, powerful and clean 11-litre GH11 engine. 

It generates powerful torque from low revs up through a wide rev range,  and, to further support fuel-efficient driving, the Quon also features UD Trucks’ Nenpi Fuel Coach - a system that displays real-time driving advice to help drivers achieve further improvement in the vehicle’s fuel economy. 

“Our customers’ definition of the essentials needed in a truck, has changed.  Our focus, therefore, is to give customers reduced operating costs as related to things like fuel efficiency, payload ability and uptime.  Secondly, we are concentrating on the people factor within the transport business, making our trucks even safer and environmentally friendly,” says Laubscher.

https://bit.ly/3iJtCUn

Colin-on-Cars - Lower truck mass equals greater loads

Lower truck mass means greater loadability and this is key for fleet operators considering the fluctuating fuel prices and other cost pressures – not the least of which is the increasing interest rate.

Fuel expenditure, which makes up 80% of total operating costs and approximately 60% of the total cost of ownership, depending on the application, can be alleviated with the ability to carry more payload to maximise the productivity and efficiency of a fleet.

The UD Trucks Quon extra heavy truck range solves this problem by a reduction of weight in the physical truck that allows operators to carry more payload. Fewer trips mean less fuel is used.

“The Quon is a highly productive range of vehicles optimised for the business needs of today and tomorrow,” explains Reytjie Laubscher, Managing Director of UD Trucks Lichtenburg. “These days the key to efficient transport is increased payload. Not only will a lowered tare weight increase payload, but also the productivity and profitability of your operations.”

Reytjie Laubscher

Every component on the Quon has been refined to realise an overall lighter vehicle, while achieving gains in load-carrying capacity of up to 200 kg, depending on the model.

The Quon GW26 460 - TT HR, for instance, has a low tare weight of 8 418 kg. This is achieved by using disc brakes and high-tensile steel rails for the main frame to reduce vehicle weight. In addition, the reduced height of the main frame cross section further reduces weight while maintaining strength, to further improve the Quon’s loading performance.

Laubscher explains this, for instance, means with a reduced tare weight, an operator can now typically transport a 36,5-ton load of cargo legally using an interlink with a twin bin side tipper trailer. (Afrit specification used for this example)

“There is an increase in payload of about 700 kg on average on the new generation Quon High Roof Truck Tractor compared to any other competitor in the market. This is the ideal set-up for fleet owners that specialise, for instance, in the coal transport industry,” says Laubscher.

Improved ease of loading, bodybuilding efficiency and smoothness at creeping speeds for approaching loading docks, also reflect UD Trucks’ commitment to boosting productivity for fleet owners.

Optimal

Quon’s air suspension features an increased adjustment range. This enables optimal height adjustment for loading docks and connecting the trailers, with an adjustable width of +140 mm upward from the neutral position. The uneven load adjustment function automatically adjusts any lateral differences in height on trucks, which improves handling when loading from the side of the truck.

The new Quon range boasts a fuel-efficient, powerful and clean 11-litre GH11 engine. 

It generates powerful torque from low revs up through a wide rev range,  and, to further support fuel-efficient driving, the Quon also features UD Trucks’ Nenpi Fuel Coach - a system that displays real-time driving advice to help drivers achieve further improvement in the vehicle’s fuel economy. 

“Our customers’ definition of the essentials needed in a truck, has changed.  Our focus, therefore, is to give customers reduced operating costs as related to things like fuel efficiency, payload ability and uptime.  Secondly, we are concentrating on the people factor within the transport business, making our trucks even safer and environmentally friendly,” says Laubscher.

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Colin-on-Cars - Confident about the Dakar

There is a quiet air of confidence permeating the Toyota Gazoo Racing squad ready to tackle the 2023 Dakar Rally – and so there should be.

Fresh from a long stint of testing in the Namib Desert in Namibia, the three-car team consists of the current (and inaugural) World Rally-Raid Championship and winners of Dakar 2022, Nasser Al-Attiyah and Mathieu Baumel along with South Africa Rally-Raid Champion Giniel de Villiers and navigator Dennis Murphy as well as Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings.

Pretty much a ‘dream team.’

Giniel de Villiers

Nasser Al-Attiyah

Glyn Hall, TGR Dakar & SARRC Team Principal and Technical Director, says: “Dakar 2023 is around the corner, and we are excited to take on the world’s toughest automotive race with a three-car team in January.

“We’ve worked hard at refining our GR DKR Hilux T1+ over the course of the year, and we’re confident that we are well-prepared to take on the rigours of the race, as well as our competition.”

This Dakar will mark the start of the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) 2023 season, with Nasser and Mathieu again taking on the world’s toughest cross-country races. The remaining crews will compete the rest of the season in the South African Rally-Raid Championship (SARRC), which also serves as a key component in the ongoing testing and development of the GR DKR Hilux T1+.

The tough 2022 racing season offered TGR comprehensive opportunities to improve the Dakar-winning GR DKR Hilux T1+ in terms of quality, durability and reliability.

The team capitalised on more than 25 000 km of racing and testing completed by its crews in both the W2RC and SARRC. Furthermore, the crews further built on their own competencies, thanks to 130 combined days on the road, securing both the W2RC and SARRC titles for the team.

For the 2023 season, the FIA has refined its criteria aimed at balancing the performance between the Class T1+ vehicles, and their counterparts in Class T1U (ultimate). The primary focus of the updated rules is to close up the field, making competition even tougher. 

For example, both the Class T1+ and T1U cars have had their peak power output reduced by 30 kW. The power curves have been adjusted to blend the change proportionately, and the altitude compensation for turbo powered T1+ cars has been removed.

At the same time, TGR has been constantly upgrading the GR DKR Hilux T1+, with the aim of improving its quality, durability and reliability even further, ensuring that the car is fully prepared for the rigours of the Dakar Rally, the W2RC and the SARRC.

As such, improvements have been made to the car’s differentials, suspension parts and wishbones, which have been reinforced. The single damper setup has also been optimised, as has the transmission’s shifting characteristics. Finally, the software has been tweaked to accept the latest racing fuel, and to ensure that the car conforms to the Balance of Performance requirements as set out by the FIA.

Dakar 2023 is set to start on December 31, 2022 on the North Western coast of Saudi Arabia, before traveling inland towards the city of Ha’il. From there, the route continues in a South-easterly direction, bisecting the feared Empty Quarter, before finally swinging northwards towards the finish at Dammam, on  January 15, 2023.

“Winning the 2022 W2RC title was my first goal, and I’m proud to say that we achieved it. Also, the car has been getting steadily better throughout the year, and with a final test in Namibia, I’m sure that we’ve locked in the best possible version of the GR DKR Hilux T1+yet. Now, all that remains is to go racing in Saudi Arabia,” says Nasser Al-Attiyah.

Giniel de Villiers added: “This year has offered some tough challenges, especially in terms of the SARRC.

“With that said, we managed to prevail to win the 2022 title, and as such we’ve grown considerably as a team. The car has also matched our personal growth, and we are excited to be back at the Dakar Rally this January. Winning the SARRC title has affirmed our belief that we are in the mix for overall victory this January, and we can’t wait for the race to start.”

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Colin-on-Cars - Poised to strike

With titles at stake the final round of the SA Endurance Championship takes on an international flavour in the form of Italians Gianmaria Gabbiani, Alberto Huober and Mags Govender in Backdraft Roadster #33 as part of the mix.

The finale is set to be a title-deciding thriller fought out over nine hours at the Killarney International Raceway in Cape Town as part of the Southern African Endurance Series Cape Motorsport Festival on December 9 and 10.

There are 10 teams racing the open-topped rumbling Lexus V8-powered Backdraft Roadsters are riding high in the fight for the coveted Index of Performance Championship, while the overall points table features seven Backdraft teams in the top 10.

Adding to the pressure to deliver strong results is the Class E title which will also be resolved at the Cape Motorsport Festival.

Against the backdrop of South Africa’s largest motor sport music festival, Team Pesty Racing’s Harm/Barend Pretorius will be out to defend their slender six point lead by repeating their Index victory last time out at Aldo Scribante, while also fighting off their rivals for the Class E crown which they also lead by nine points.

Hot on Team Pesty’s heels is Benjamin Morgenrood (Ben Morgenrood Ford and Mazda) who will be helped by his brother Crisjan, who missed the Scribante double header due to exams and plummeted to 11th in the standings. Father Ben, a doyen of SA motor sport missed the opening round and lies ninth on the points table. The Morgenrood trio will do everything in their power to help Benjamin take one or both of the titles up for grabs.

Alone

Colin Ellison is third in the Index standings – seven points adrift of Morgenrood – having raced his black and gold Titan Historic F1 Racing Backdraft to an Index victory in East London. Ellison is alone in his fight having raced with multiple co-drivers during the season. He has, however, elected to sit out the 9-Hour.

Team Qhubani’s Baphumze Rubuluza/Fikile Holomisa has been a model of consistency until round six which saw their first non-finish in over a year. Their third place on Index in round five has been their best result so far, and they will be joined by Xolela Njumbunxa for this occasion. They are 37 points off the lead but with 100 available, anything can still happen.

Rejoining the fray is the PPLE and Adapt entry of Philip Meyer, Mark Harvey and Dean Wolson with their fully re-furbished Backdraft. The trio won the Index of performance in round two and could be a dark horse this time around in their Panda-liveried machine.

An interesting entry is the #33 car to be driven by Italians Gianmaria Gabbiani, Alberto Huober and Mags Govender. Gabbiani has raced go-karts, single-seaters, touring cars and stock cars and won a Class One World Powerboat Championship and scored two Endurance Powerboat World Championships. Huober is a classic car restorer and dealer and has also raced powerboats.

Other key players in the Class E and Index of performance title chase include the trio of Trevor Graham, a veteran rally and endurance racer teamed with Mark Owen and Richard van Heerde.

Four drivers make up the #8 Backdraft entry headed by former Off-Road Class D Champion Manfred Schroeder, Meredith Wills, Michael Gaines and KZN regional racer Reg Sutton who should be chased by Joburg newcomers Malcolm and Mpostine Bhengu.

The Index of Performance has been won four times by Backdraft Roadster teams in the preceding six rounds. It is not a foregone conclusion that a Backdraft entry will win the Index of Performance Championship but the fight for the title will be breath-taking to watch.

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Colin-on-Cars - The case for remanufactured parts

There is a strong case to be made for transport operators to use remanufactured replacement parts that goes well beyond the simple cost saving.

Transport operators have to consider a multitude of fixed and variable factors that have an impact on their cost of operation, and subsequently, their business’ bottom line. These include fuel costs, financing, labour, insurance, maintenance and repair.

When a vital component breaks down the question that inevitably arises is how you should replace it. Repair, buy new or go for a remanufactured part?

To make the right decision for your business it’s vital to consider all your options to essentially solve the same problem.  

“Buying a new part could be your first instinct when something breaks down; after all you want something that works, has a warranty, and is guaranteed to fit your truck. A new part will also come with the latest technology, have the longest life expectancy and work efficiently. 

"But it will also mean a higher price tag and you will have to evaluate how this will impact your operating costs and total cost of ownership of your truck,” says Eric Parry, sustainable solutions manager at Volvo Trucks South Africa.

Eric Parry

When you repair a part, the malfunctioning or worn component gets replaced while the rest stays the same. While repairing can save you money it’s good to be aware repairing also almost always comes with certain downtime as the truck will have to be in the workshop for a while.

Understanding remanufacturing

Before considering whether remanufactured parts are the right option for your business, it’s important to distinguish remanufacturing from rebuilding a piece of equipment.

Remanufacturing is a standardised industrial process in which worn-out parts are returned to a condition that is as good as new in technical specifications and performance. It is usually a good idea to replace heavier components with remanufactured parts as these tend to be more expensive.

Engine, chassis parts, transmission brakes and steering are just a few of such components. When it comes to electronics, starter motors, control units and alternators can be replaced using remanufactured parts as well.

“When we remanufacture parts at Volvo Trucks this process includes dismantling, cleaning, re-machining, assembling and testing the equipment. The process is much like the original manufacturing process, except that some of the components have had a previous life,” says Olga Naert, remanufacturing business development manager at Volvo Trucks.

There are a few reasons why a remanufactured part might be the right investment if you are facing the breakdown of a critical component.

“The most obvious is of course the lower cost compared to a new part. When you buy a reman unit, all parts will be updated with the latest technology,” explained Naert. “Quality is another plus as remanufactured parts meet OEM standards for performance and always comes with a warranty.”

Last but not least, a remanufactured part also has a much lower impact on the environment as a lot less raw material, energy and water is used in the production process.

Concern about the environment and diminishing resources is a great reason to choose remanufacturing.

A newly produced part is made using 100% new raw material whereas a remanufactured part only uses 15% since most of the material comes from the core (the faulty part).

“Using remanufactured parts also saves energy, reduces landfill waste and it means that dangerous residuals inside worn components are taken care of,” adds Parry. “The process of remanufacturing, which is labour intensive, can also be seen as sustainable from a societal perspective as it creates demand for high-skilled jobs.”

In addition to quality and lower cost, remanufactured parts can also be a quick fix compared to repairing thanks to their growing popularity and availability. In fact, choosing a remanufactured part could put you back on the road just as quickly as purchasing a new product.

“At the end of the day whatever purchase strategy you decide on will depend on the specific needs of your business,” explained Parry. “Remanufacturing can be a great option if you are cost sensitive but also want a high-quality product. The cost of a remanufactured part can be up to 50% cheaper than a new one, depending on the type of part.”

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Colin-on-Cars - Three days of action at Kyalami

The 9 Hour returns to Kyalami in February packaged into a three-day motor sport extravaganza that includes not only the Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli, but the top local saloon and single-seater race formulae as well.

The weekend’s headline event is the second round of the IGT Challenge, following just three weeks after the opening round of the 2023 season at Bathurst in Australia. Organisers anticipate all teams will be lined up on the grid to boost their season title aspirations.

Joining the SRO Motorsports Group K9H starting grid will be some of the top South African teams in FIA-homologated GT3 and GT4 machinery.

Thursday’s practice sessions will be open to the public for the first-time, giving motor sport enthusiasts the opportunity to see glowing brake discs and flame-spitting exhausts during the night practice session, along with pit walks and driver autograph sessions.

SUPPORT RACES

More than 200 competitors are expected to participate in the line-up of support races – each category featuring two races – over the three days. Topping the support bill is the opening round of the 2023 GTC and SupaCup Championships, while 50 wild BMWs across the brand’s recent history will battle it out in the first round of the BMW M Performance Parts Race Series.

In addition, the hotly contested CompCare Volkswagen Polo Cup enters its 27th year at Kyalami and the 2023 season will be one to watch with interest.

The InvestChem F1600 Championship kick off their year along with the opening round of the thundering Mobil 1 V8 Championship.

A substantial entry of Sports and GT cars, featuring a wide variety of racing machines is sure to keep spectators on the edge of their seat. Adding to the excitement, will be a high-speed Historic Race Car demonstration and static display, where spectators can get close to an array of legendary cars from South African motorsport history.

Adam Brown, K9H CEO says: “We launched the Kyalami 9-Hour in 2019 with a great response from the public creating a great platform from which to grow. The Global Pandemic then hit forcing us to host a race without the vital support of our race fans.

“We are grateful to all our event partners and race fans for sticking with us through these challenging times. The 9 Hour is back in early 2023! We are going all out – a true fest of motoring, bigger international grid, more national team participation and greater support race participation.

“The access for race fans has been extended to include Thursday making the event a three-day experience which includes the 9 Hour night practice session and qualifying, support race practice and qualifying, motor industry activations, historic race car displays and demonstrations, e-sport competitions, hot laps, music, food and beer gardens.”

Denis Klopper (K9H Race and Track Activations Manager) added: “We are extremely excited to announce a full Support Race programme for the Kyalami 9 Hour race, with six categories announced including three National Championship Series. With a total Support Race entry exceeding 200 competitors race fans can look forward to an entertaining three days of motorsport and Historic Race Car demonstrations.”  

TICKETS:

With Christmas fast approaching, K9H tickets will make a perfect gift for the petrol-head in your family or circle of friends.

General Access tickets go on sale on Friday, 25th November with special Black Friday deals for one day only. Details of the various Hospitality Packages will be announced shortly.

Pricing:

- Thursday 23rd February  R 250

- Friday 24th February      R 350

- Saturday 25th February  R 550

- Three-day ticket             R 1,000

Black Friday Prices (25 November ONLY)

- Saturday                        R 465

- Three-day ticket            R 850






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