Sunday, 4 December 2022

Colin-on-Cars - Poised to strike

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.


https://bit.ly/3P0fZvZ

Friday, 2 December 2022

Colin-on-Cars - The case for remanufactured parts

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.”


https://bit.ly/3VNpKQG

Monday, 21 November 2022

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

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







https://bit.ly/3EQycZM

Friday, 18 November 2022

Colin-on-Cars - Supercar spectacular

Colin-on-Cars - Supercar spectacular

April next year will become a petrolhead’s dream when 60 exotic cars leave the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit on a 1 300 km tour of the country – including a track day at Dezzi Raceway on the KZN South Coast.

OzowDR23 will kick off at Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit on April 27, where entrants road will take to the tarmac for day one’s fast-paced track day. From there the supercar convoy will head east for an Afrika Burn inspired launch party and overnight in the Drakensburg, ahead of day two’s convoy to Umhlanga where some of the world’s most prestigious automotive rivalries will be settled at a high-profile gymkhana like no other.



Day three sees another grip-seeking, aero-testing, limit-pushing track day, this time at Port Shepstone’s Dezzi Raceway, before some respite for both man and machine on the fourth travel day – by private charter to Hoedspruit, of course.

Air Force Base Hoedspruit and its 3,9 km asphalt runway, together with the beautiful backdrop of Kapama Private Game Reserve, provide an ideal venue for high-speed test runs on day five, with OzowDR23 wrapping up with a Sabie hillclimb and ‘Go Hard or Go Home’ prizegiving party in Nelspruit on May 2.



While the OzowDR23 supercar entry list is yet to be confirmed, an ultra-valuable assortment of exotic machinery including rare Lamborghinis, Ferraris, McLarens, Aston Martins, Porsches and Paganis – some with values approaching R100-million – is expected based on past event participation.

Aside from the competitive elements behind the wheel, entrants will identify charities of their choice and challenge each other to raise the most money by the end of the rally.

Automated EFT specialist and title sponsor Ozow will develop and facilitate an easy payment system with unique smartphone scannable QR codes applied as decals to each team’s supercar. Teams are encouraged to support their charities through donations from associates and members of the public along the six-day journey.

Super and hypercar owners interested in entering the largest charitable rally in the southern hemisphere are welcome to contact Mark Castel at mark@daytonarally.co.za for more information.


https://bit.ly/3tDxNn1

Thursday, 17 November 2022

Colin-on-Cars - All to play for

Colin-on-Cars - All to play for

The forests of Mpumalanga will come alive this weekend to the sound of rally cars as the season finale, the TRACN4 Rally takes to the fast forest stages between Belfast and Dullstroom.

It is certainly not yet over with series leaders Chris Coertse and navigator Greg Godrich and their new NRC1 Rally Technic Mazda2, who start the event just 64 points ahead of their nearest rivals, Theuns Joubert and Schalk van Heerden in the Salom Labour Toyota Yaris.



There are 74 points on offer for the double-header, meaning Guy Botterill and Simon Vacy-Lyle who are third in their Gazoo Racing Toyota Starlet and 68 points adrift could stand a mathematical chance.

“We’ve prepared the car well for this weekend,” said Botterill in the build-up to this weekend’s Rounds 11 and 12. “We finally feel that we’re on top of things, and even though we’ve had our fair share of teething problems with the new car, I’m confident that we’re in a good position for this weekend.”



At the same time, teammates Mandla Mdakane and co-driver Kes Naidoo, will be campaigning the team’s second car in the form of a Toyota Auris S2000. The car has served as an entry to the sport for Mdakane, but reliability issues have plagued his attempts thus far.

“We’re hoping for a clean run this weekend,” said the Johannesburg-based driver. “We’ve shown good pace over single stages earlier in the year, but haven’t had the opportunity to string it all together. With a bit of luck, we’ll get that chance in Dullstroom.”



The weather in Dullstroom for this weekend is predicted to be mild and dry, in stark contrast to Botterill/Vacy-Lyle’s last outing for TGRSA, which was in extremely muddy and wet conditions, during the Parys 400 – final round of the 2022 South African Rally-Raid Series (SARRC), where they finished in fourth place during the final round.

This year’s TRACN4 National Rally will kick off with a ceremonial start at the service park at Lakenvlei, just outside Dullstroom. This will be followed by seven stages in the area forming Round 11 of the season. Saturday will see Round 12, the final of the season, start at the oval in Dullstroom itself, again followed by seven stages bringing the 2022 NRC to a close.


https://bit.ly/3EicX19

Wednesday, 16 November 2022

Colin-on-Cars - First Ranger off the line

Colin-on-Cars - First Ranger off the line


After months of build-up news, a factory ‘unveiling’ and more than plenty hype, Ford Motor Company’s Silverton Assembly Plant in Pretoria, today became the third plant to commence production of the new Ranger for customers around the world.

The start of the production follows a major investment of US$1,05-billion (R15,8 billion) in Ford’s South African operations and supplier tooling to allow exports to more than 100 markets, including Europe.

Ford Motor Company now has three production hubs in the International Markets Group (IMG) region producing Next-Gen Ranger for global markets, including the Silverton plant in South Africa, and two plants in Thailand. The company also has CKD operations in Vietnam and Cambodia to assemble the Ranger, with plants in the US and Argentina to begin production in 2023.

Commitment

“The start of Ranger production in South Africa highlights our commitment to delivering must-have products for our customers, not just in South Africa but around the world,” says Dianne Craig, president of Ford International Markets Group (IMG).

“South Africa is an important part of our global Ranger manufacturing network, and it is fantastic to witness the investment being utilised to modernise and transform the Silverton Assembly Plant to produce vehicles of the absolute best quality for customers around the world.”

The expanded operations in South Africa contribute to job creation and economic development, with 1 200 new jobs added for a third shift to support the increased production volumes. This takes the workforce at Ford South Africa to 5 500 employees. Ford’s supplier network benefits too, with approximately 10 000 jobs added across the value chain.

Of the total investment, approximately US$686-million (R10,3 billion) has gone into the transformation and modernisation of the Silverton plant with the construction of its first on-site Stamping Plant, a new highly automated Body Shop, and the introduction of the latest vehicle assembly operations on the Trim, Chassis and Final line.



Furthermore, the only Ford-owned and operated Frame Line in the world was built in the new Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (TASEZ) supplier park adjacent to the Silverton Assembly Plant. Ford’s investment in tooling at its major supplier companies totalled US$365-million (R5,5-billion).



In addition to the Silverton investment, Ford injected US$34-million (R600-million) into its Struandale Engine Plant in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), which produces all the engines used in the new Ranger.

The investment in Struandale Engine Plant has helped Ford introduce the new 3,0-litre V6 Diesel engine program, comprising cylinder head machining and engine assembly. Upgrades for the Ranger were also implemented on the existing assembly line for the 2,0-litre Single Turbo and 2,0-litre B-Turbo diesel engines.



“We have put immense effort, resources, and the latest technologies in place to ensure the Ranger is truly world-class, and that the Silverton plant globally equals the very best,” says Andrea Cavallaro, Director Operations, Ford IMG.

“We took several strategic decisions including the decision to bring the stamping operations and the frame manufacturing in-house, to ensure complete control of the production quality. The process put in today guarantees that the components going onto the assembly line for every Next-Gen Ranger are of the highest quality.”

The Stamping Plant at the Silverton Assembly Plant is in a new 10 320 m2 facility and feeds stamped body panels directly to the adjacent and completely new 44 000 m2 Body Shop, which is highly automated with approximately 493 robots.

Technologies

“To meet our volume and quality objectives, we have the world’s only Ford-owned and operated chassis manufacturing plant at the Silverton plant that uses the most advanced technologies currently available,” Cavallaro added.  

In addition, the 100 000 m2 Frame Line in the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (TASEZ) supplier park, located next door to the Silverton Assembly Plant, ensures the seamless sequencing of parts directly to the assembly line.

First launched in 2011, the Ranger remained one of the leading contenders in the local market over the ensuing 11 years, earning a long list of accolades in the process.

“The success of the Ranger globally establishes it as one of Ford’s most important nameplates sold in every continent,” said Neale Hill, President, Ford Motor Company Africa. “The Next-Gen Ranger is sure to raise the bar yet again and with the start of production in the Silverton assembly plant, South Africa is proud to play a role in its growth.”

What now remains to be seen is if Ford South Africa will continue to build a range of the older version to service its large corporate market.

To my mind this is a no-brainer, especially considering the final few months of production of the outgoing model were done on the new Ranger line as a kind of tesdt bed production – so there is no reason why both cannot co-exist.

First Ranger off the line: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD3xnh7cHsE


https://bit.ly/3tzpLeP

Monday, 14 November 2022

Colin-on-Cars - Fossil-free steel for Volvo Trucks

Colin-on-Cars - Fossil-free steel for Volvo Trucks

With around 90% of the truck recyclable at the end of its working life, Volvo Trucks has now become the first manufacturer to use fossil-free steel in the manufacturing process.

The fossil-free steel is produced by the Swedish steel manufacturer SSAB and is made by using a completely new technology with fossil-free electricity and hydrogen. The result is a significantly lower climate impact and an important step towards a net-zero emissions value chain. Among the customers that will have fossil-free steel in some of their electric trucks are Amazon and DFDS and, through the transport company Simon Loos, Unilever.

Global

In September this year, Volvo Trucks started series production of heavy-duty electric, 44-tonne trucks, as the first global truck manufacturer to achieve this. Some of the electric trucks will also be the first trucks in the world that are built with fossil-free steel.

“Our journey to net zero emissions includes both making our vehicles fossil free in operation and over time fully replacing the material in our trucks with fossil-free and recycled alternatives,” says Jessica Sandström, Senior Vice President of Product Management at Volvo Trucks.



“At Amazon, we are on the way to making all of our operations net-zero carbon by 2040. We need partners like Volvo to make this transition happen,” says Andreas Marschner, Vice President Transportation Services Europe at Amazon.

“DFDS is committed to our green transition and to delivering greener transport and logistics solutions. Any step in the green transition of logistics brings us closer to a carbon-free society and we are therefore happy to learn that some of our new electric trucks soon to be delivered are also produced with fossil-free steel,” says Niklas Andersson, EVP of DFDS Logistics Division.

The first steel produced with hydrogen is being used in the electric truck’s frame rails, the backbone of the truck upon which all other main components are mounted. As the availability of fossil-free steel increases, it will also be introduced in other parts of the truck.

Recycled

Today, around 30% of the materials in a new Volvo truck come from recycled materials. Also, up to 90% of the truck can be recycled at the end of its life. Fossil-free steel will be an important complement to the traditional and recycled steel used in Volvo’s trucks.

Volvo Trucks is committed to the Paris agreement on climate change and to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in the entire value chain by 2040, at the latest.

https://bit.ly/3WXgdrr

Colin-on-Cars - De Villiers takes the title

Colin-on-Cars - De Villiers takes the title


Toyota’s Giniel de Villiers is the 2022 South African Rally-Raid Champion (SARRC), having nicked the position by finishing second behind Gareth Woolridge and Boyd Dreyer – who claimed their first overall race win in the EcoBoost V6 powered FIA T1+ Ford Ranger on the rain-drenched Parys 400 event.

The weekend started with a qualifying race held in cold and very wet conditions, over an already saturated route of 12 km. The mud and incessant rain made it tricky for the crews to find a rhythm, but even so, TGRSA’s crews performed well.

Variawa and Stassen set the benchmark time of 8min 1sec, and were followed home by brothers Johan and Werner Horn, driving a privately entered Toyota Hilux T1+, similar to that campaigned by TGRSA. Behind them came the three remaining works crews: De Villiers/Burke; Guy Botterill and co-driver Simon-Vacy-Lyle; and Lategan/Cummings.

Conditions continued to deteriorate as the delayed race start drew near, but when the flag dropped it was flat out racing in Parys. At the end of the first race loop, which was severely curtailed due to the conditions, it was Lategan/Cummings who led, with De Villiers/Burke in second, Variawa/Stassen in third and Botterill/Vacy-Lyle in fourth – a power performance by the works squad.

Shortly before the end of the loop, the organisers announced the second race loop would be cancelled due to the deteriorating condition of the track, which saw numerous competitors fail to reach the Designated Service Park (DSP) at the Parys Airfield. And with that, Round 6 was done.

Round 7 followed on the Saturday of the weekend, again starting with a qualifying race over a 12 km course. Continued rain over the preceding night meant even more treacherous conditions under foot, but the man who went fastest during qualifying the day before, was again best of the TGRSA crews: Variawa/Stassen posted the second-fastest time, with De Villiers/Burke in fifth place.

When racing got under way shortly after, the tough conditions took their toll. Lategan/Cummings moved into the lead mid-way through the opening race loop, but disaster struck around the 70 km mark: An alternator belt was dislodged in deep water, and when the crew attempted to pull off the route, they became severely stuck. Shortly after, Variawa/Stassen fell foul to a similar fate, ending up stuck within sight of their teammates.

Botterill/Vacy-Lyle also lost an alternator belt 6 km from the finish. This belt also drives the power steering pump, and with no assistance, the big-tyred Hilux T1+ becomes nearly impossible to drive. Despite this, Botterill managed to wrestle the car home to finish in fourth place overall.

Ahead of Botterill/Vacy-Lyle, De Villiers/Burke drove a faultless race to finish Loop 1 in second place. As with the previous day, the race organisers were forced to cancel the second race loop, cementing De Villiers/Burke’s second position, as well as De Villiers’ championship. This title capped a fantastic season for the South African-built and developed Toyota Hilux T1+, starting with victory on the Dakar Rally back in January this year.



The Neil Woolridge Motorsport (NWM) Ford Castrol Team ended its season on a high as Gareth Woolridge and Boyd Dreyer claimed their first overall race win.

“We are thrilled with the win, as Boyd and I have been trying to secure our first win for at least 10 years,” Gareth said. “I’m really glad to finally pull it together in the most difficult conditions we’ve ever raced in.

“It has been a difficult year, with some small technical issues that have let us down, despite Boyd and I having one of our cleanest seasons yet,” Gareth added. “We’ve taken big strides forward with our T1+ Ranger, as we proved at the previous event and this weekend in Parys. So for next year, I think we’re in good shape for even bigger and better things.”



Team-mates Lance Woolridge and Elvéne Vonk (#234) led the NWM Ford Castrol team’s charge on Friday, finishing fifth overall. After setting the fourth-fastest time for Saturday’s qualifying loop, just 14 seconds off the lead Ranger, it looked set to be a thrilling battle for the final podium of this year’s championship.

However, they were among several of the top crews who got stuck around halfway through the race loop. Thanks to the assistance of the TeamHilux team of Eben Basson and Leander Pienaar, Lance and Elvéne were able to extricate their stricken Ranger from the quagmire – and were rewarded for their never-say-die attitude by coming home fifth in Class FIA T1+ and 14th overall.

“I didn’t think the conditions could get worse than yesterday, but it was manic out there today,” Lance said. “It was so slippery that we had to start braking from 600 to 700 metres away from a turn and then just tiptoe around the corner.

“We got stuck in a ploughed field where the two Toyotas ahead of us had already gone through, and when I got out the car I sank right down to my knees in the mud,” he added. “Elvéne and I didn’t want to slow the top teams down so we let them all past, then Eben and Leander, who had won their class championship on Friday, stopped and pulled us out, and we had a clean run to the end.”


https://bit.ly/3hHLuOP

Wednesday, 9 November 2022

Colin-on-Cars - Double points, double the fun

Colin-on-Cars - Double points, double the fun

The small Free State of Parys, situated on the banks on the Vaal River, will be rocking to the sound of high performance engines this weekend as the 2022 South African Rally-Raid Championship (SARRC) comes to a climax with a double-header and very much a Toyota versus Ford shootout.

For Henk Lategan and co-driver Brett Cummings, the weekend offers the opportunity to seal their fourth SARRC title, as they hold a three-point lead over teammates Giniel de Villiers and co-driver Dennis Murphy in the overall Production Category.



De Villiers, however, is a fierce competitor and is sure to make Lategan work hard for the points he needs to clinch the championship. To make matters more interesting, however, Murphy will be unable to compete in Parys due to a broken arm. Seasoned co-driver Rodney Burke will be  strapping into his seat for the weekend, adding pressure to De Villiers in his quest to regain the SARRC crown.

For the Neil Woolridge Motorsport (NWM) Ford Castrol Team it will be a crucial opportunity to maximise its points and move up the standings.



Gareth Woolridge and Boyd Dreyer (277) are currently fifth in the premier FIA T1+ category in their EcoBoost V6-powered NWM Ford Ranger, with just eight points separating them from third-placed Shameer Variawa/Danie Stassen (Toyota).

This sets the scene for an intense battle that will be played out on the dusty tracks of this farming region near the Vaal River, just more than an hour’s drive from Johannesburg.

Gareth and Boyd proved that they have the pace to run at the front of the field after leading most of Round 5 at NAMPO Park in Bothaville. A minor electrical gremlin tripped up their charge to victory, but the young pair are intent on ending the season on a high.

Behind the two hard-charging Class T1+ Toyota Hilux crews come two more crews from the same squad, driving identical cars. Shameer Variawa and co-driver Danie Stassen are 30 points adrift of De Villiers/Murphy, and only three points ahead of Guy Botterill and co-driver Simon Vacy-Lyle with two rounds to go.



While it is unlikely either Variawa or Botterill will overtake the crews ahead of them, anything can still happen, and with a maximum of 60 points on offer between the final two rounds, neither of the two chasing crews will be holding anything in reserve this weekend.

“This has been a stunning season for us,” says TGRSA Team Principal, Glyn Hall. “Our Class T1+ Hilux has dominated all year, clearly showing why this machine is tough enough to not only compete at the Dakar Rally, but also to have won it twice now.”

With this in mind, the team will be using the weekend’s Parys 400, as the double-header is known, to test a number of final engine upgrades and other components, as they prepare for the upcoming Dakar Rally in January, 2023.

An identical Hilux, in the hands of Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Nasser Al-Attiyah and co-driver Mathieu Baumel won the inaugural World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) this year, and the mileage recorded during that championship, as well as the SARRC, may well prove to be invaluable in the development of the latest iteration of the GR DKR Hilux T1+ as the car is also known.

This weekend’s race is likely to take place in wet and muddy conditions, though no heavy rains are predicted over the weekend itself. Even so, the muddy tracks around the town of Parys has proven tough in the past, and the TGRSA crews will have their work cut out for them, with two full races taking place in just two days. This includes a prologue, to determine the starting orders for the main race, on both mornings – followed by two long race loops that brings the total daily race distance close to the 400 km mark.



The 2022 season has been extremely challenging for team-mates Lance Woolridge and Elvéne Vonk (234) in the second NWM Ford Castrol T1+ Ranger. They have also shown race-winning potential on several occasions this year, and are aiming to repeat the impressive form they had at the NAMPO event to shake things up – with Lady Luck hopefully on their side for a change as they continue durability testing of key components.

“We have been hard at work testing and sorting out the little niggles that have hampered our performance this year. We are looking forward to returning to Parys which has very similar terrain to the last event, and this seems to suit our car,” says team principal Neil Woolridge.

“It was encouraging and a real morale booster for the entire team to see the Rangers dominating qualifying and having Gareth and Boyd leading for most of the previous round. Now we just need a clean run without any hassles to show what we are capable of as we give Gareth and Boyd the best chance to fight for the final podium position in the 2022 championship,” Neil says.

The action gets under way at 07:30 on Friday morning, when the crews take on a 12 km-long qualifying race.

This will be followed by two loops of 155 km each, starting at 9:30. The crews will then have to repair and recuperate, as they’ll be doing it all again the next day, making for a tough finish to a long season. Fans can visit the race and its HQ at the Parys Airfield free of charge, or follow the action on the Rally Safe application, which is available for both iOS and Android devices.

This race is renowned for its spectator-friendly route and easily accessible viewing points, and access to the route and DSP is free.


https://bit.ly/3NROGDR

Thursday, 3 November 2022

Colin-on-Cars - Measuring the moment

Colin-on-Cars - Measuring the moment


How do you actually feel when driving - or being driven - in a motor car? Performance car brand, Abarth, has become the first manufacturer to trial facial recognition technology to better understand the emotions experienced when in its car.

Working in partnership with the world-renowned Loughborough University, Abarth carried out the experiment to discover the differing emotions experienced by the driver and passenger.



Driving an Abarth F595, 595 Esseesse and 595 Competizione, participants were put through driving challenges including hot laps, precision driving tasks, and chase scenarios at Mallory Park, Leicestershire.

Emotions including happiness, excitement, and fear were then measured as passengers were driven by professional drivers.

The results showed the most prominent feeling during a hot lap was happiness, both when behind the wheel (31,8%) and as a passenger (35,4%).

When driven by professional drivers who pushed the car to its full potential, participants experienced short bursts of fear and shock (11,9%), contributing to a thrilling track day experience.

State-of-the-art facial recognition technology was used alongside heart rate sensors - Electrocardiogram (ECG) and Photoplethysmography (PPG) - allowing Abarth to accurately detect an array of emotions among individuals.

The data was then analysed using DeepFace Python library and Facial Emotion Recognition library.



Reader in Digital Health, Dr Dale Esliger at Loughborough University, who led the trial, said: “The constellation of biometric equipment that we used allowed us to accurately detect an array of emotions that were experienced when driver’s and passenger’s get into an Abarth, while detecting the most prominent emotion during the respective driving activities.

“Research within this remit is limited, however, I suspect it will be an area within the automotive industry that will continue to be explored, as manufacturers strive to improve the driving experiences of their cars.”

Greg Taylor, Fiat and Abarth, UK Managing Director, added: “We always knew anecdotally that the levels of joy our cars bring to the driver and passengers, but now we have some preliminary data from one of the world's leading sport universities to back that up.



“Our products are not only designed to excite drivers on the road, but they’re also perfect track day cars too.”

Starting from the 595 for those who want to enter the Abarth world, all Abarth’s offer performance, adrenaline and excitement when on the road.  

One of Abarth’s most distinctive features has always been its sound with people hearing an Abarth before you see it. With Koni rear suspension, the driver feels more connected to the road giving a sporty driving experience and superior control over performance.


https://bit.ly/3UoHgtQ