Motoring News

Motoring News
Issue 2 January 2014
VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE DUNE
CONCEPT BRINGS SUNSHINE TO
DETROIT
The latest Beetle Dune concept also revisits
an idea from January 2000, when
Volkswagen showed the New Beetle
Dune concept in Los Angeles. But while
that vehicle was far from a production
possibility, the Beetle Dune is very
much based on the current production
model, using the same 210 PS turbocharged
petrol engine and six-speed
DSG gearbox, providing power to the
front wheels.
Further information on and images of
the Beetle Dune concept will be available
after the car makes its debut at
the NAIAS on 13 January.
new recruits will join over 400 existing
apprentices currently undergoing
training across the company’s UK operations,
and within its BMW and MINI
dealer network, with some able to rise
beyond NVQ to degree qualifications.
In its MINI UK production network, the
business is looking for 49 new apprentices
to take up places in August as the
plants ramp up production of the next
model generation. In addition, BMW
and MINI dealerships are looking to recruit
around 110 young people across
the UK.
Skills and Enterprise Minister Matthew
Hancock said: “It is always encouraging
In the midst of a ferociously cold Michigan
winter, the new Volkswagen Beetle
Dune concept is all set to bring a hint of
summer sunshine when it makes its
debut at the North American International
Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit
next week.
The Beetle Dune is based on the latest
version of the iconic Volkswagen, and
adds a cool, rugged off-road look. The
body has been raised by 50 mm compared
with a standard Beetle, while 19-
inch wheels with large tyres lend an allterrain
look. A rear-mounted ski-rack is
reminiscent of those fitted to classic
Beetles, and makes a perfect accessory
for the season. In the summer, it could
hold a sandboard – the ideal accessory
for surfing the sand dunes from which
the Beetle Dune takes its name.
BMW GROUP SEEKS 160 NEW
APPRENTICES TO JOIN UK
MANUFACTURING AND DEALER
OPERATIONS IN 2014
BMW Group is looking for around 160
young people with a passion for the
motor industry to take up apprenticeships
available through its company
and dealership schemes in 2014. The

2 Motoring News
London Motor Museum is the only custom
car museum in Europe, housing a
unique collection of more than 200 prito
see large employers, such as BMW,
committing to employing more apprentices.
This scheme is a great opportunity
for a young person with an
interest in the automotive sector to begin
a rewarding career. I want choosing
university or an apprenticeship to be
the new norm for young people and
the range of positions available
demonstrate this is becoming a
reality.”
Apprenticeships in the MINI UK production
network
MINI Plant Oxford has 31 places available
in a variety of areas ranging from
finance and logistics to engineering
and IT. Technical apprentices will attend
Plant Oxford’s new bespoke training
school, featuring state-of-the-art
classrooms, dedicated computer study
areas and a fully-equipped workshop.
With 10 apprenticeships available at
the Plant Swindon pressings plant and
a further eight at the Hams Hall engine
plant near Birmingham, apprenticeships
last between three and four years
and cover a wide range of skills from
human resources and business to electrical
maintenance and engineering.
The training leads to an NVQ level three
qualification and some young people
will have the opportunity to progress
right through to degree level in the
course of their career at MINI.
Frank Bachmann, Managing Director,
MINI Plant Oxford and Swindon, said:
“Investment in young people is a key
part of our development strategy for
the plants and it is vital that we attract
the very best young talent to ensure
the business has the right skills for the
future. We are delighted to be able to
offer young people the chance to join
our modern apprenticeship scheme.”
BMW Group Academy UK, a purposebuilt
training centre opened in 2006
and located near Reading, the
Bodyshop programmes are carried out
at our training facility in Milton Keynes.
In general the minimum entry criteria
require between three and four GSCEs
at grade C or above or equivalent.
Commenting on the 2014 intake, Tim
Abbott, Managing Director of BMW
Group UK, said: "Bringing new talent
into our dealerships is vital to ensure
we provide the best possible service for
our customers and so I am delighted
that we will welcome over 100 new apprentices
to our award- winning
scheme in the UK."
LONDON MOTOR
MUSEUM TO
DISPLAY RARE AND
UNIQUE CARS AT
AUTOSPORT
INTERNATIONAL
2014
Home to one of the largest collections
of both classic and custom automobiles
in Europe, the London Motor Museum
will proudly be displaying some
of its rarest machinery at the world’s
greatest four wheel indoor extravaganza
this weekend.
London Motor Museum founder Elo,
will take the Gumpert Apollo, GT500
and the RAAW street rod to showcase
the rare and unique cars from the collection
of over 200 all available to view
at the museum in Hayes, London seven
days a week.
The Gumpert Apollo has been part of
the London Motor Museum’s collection
for over two years and is one of the
fastest supercars in the world. Also on
display will be the GT500, a Ford Mustang
Shelby and one of the world’s
most powerful production V8s with a
top speed of 202mph. The RAAW street
rod is a 1952 Chevrolet speedster street
rod and has been uniquely customised
by the London Motor Museum. Inspired
by World War 2 fighter jets London Motor
Museum has chopped, channelled
and decked the original two door
sedan and created a boat tail by welding
the bonnet to the rear.
Autosport International is the world’s
greatest four wheel indoor extravaganza
held at the NEC, Birmingham featuring
every level of motor racing from
karting to Formula 1. Now in it’s 24th
year the show caters for both industry
professionals and motorsport fans with
exhibitors from the entire automotive
world on display.
London Motor Museum owner and
founder Elo commented: “Autosport International
is a fantastic exhibition and
we’re delighted to be taking three
unique cars from our 200-strong collection,
to show a different side to motorsport
and car culture. Each of the cars
represents something different from
the London Motor Museum and all
have our unique stamp on them –
come and see for yourselves!”
London Motor Museum will feature on
stand 9220 on the 11th and 12th January.
Autosport International tickets are
available to purchase at https://
www.theticketfactory.com/ai/online/
About London Motor Group:
London Motor Group is parent company
to the London Supercar Workshop
and London Motor Museum, and specialises
in unique and exceptional custom
car conversions.
Owner and founder, Elo, is a former international
fashion model, and the
work of the London Motor Group is a
reflection of his unique personality and
character.
London Supercar Workshop is the creative
epicentre of the operation, with
cars from all over the world, often belonging
to international music, sports
and movie stars undergoing customisation
in this unique and specialist environment
dedicated to Elo and his
team’s automotive passion and artistic
flare.
Young people can also apply for an apprenticeship
through a Facebook page
w h i c h c a n b e f o u n d a t
www.facebook.com/BmwCareersUK.
The closing date for applications is 31
January 2014.
Apprenticeships in the BMW and MINI
UK dealer network
For the 110 apprentices to be recruited
to MINI and BMW dealerships, there are
programmes in various disciplines
ranging from Service Technician, Parts
Advisor, Motorcycle Technician and
Body Panel/Paint.
All BMW and MINI dealer apprentices
complete the three-year Advanced
Modern Apprenticeship at Level 3, the
Parts Advisor programme is two years,
and receive VRQ/VCQ qualifications
from the Institute of the Motor
Industry. Training is carried out at the

Motoring News
3
Gumpert Apollo
vately owned American and European
classic cars ranging from the 1930s
through to the present day and showcasing
the latest creations from the Supercar
Workshop.
With much more than just classic cars,
the London Motor Museum boasts a
range of unique vehicles and exhibitions
including The Movie Car Section,
The Bat-Cave (home to both the 1966
and 1989 Batmobile), Muscle Car Alley,
The Supercar Paddock (home to some
of the fastest cars in the world) and
much more.
RAAW Hotrod

4 Motoring News
ART AND DESIGN COME
TOGETHER FOR INFINITI
'Artistic brilliance' is the theme that
unites new London-based cultural initiatives
by Infiniti.
As work progresses on Infiniti's first
London design studio, the luxury performance
brand is also looking to the
arts - by supporting two major London
shows this month where great design
comes as standard.
Infiniti is a sponsor of the London Art
Fair, being held at the Islington Business
Design Centre from January 15–19
(with special VIP and media viewings
taking place on Tuesday January 14).
London Art Fair covers Modern British
and contemporary art and includes a
broad spectrum of work from artist collectives
and younger emerging galleries
through to the large established
galleries of Mayfair.
Infiniti will be on hand to chauffeur all
VIP guests to and from the show
throughout the week, utilising its latest
models such as the all-new Q50 saloon,
the larger Q70 and the design-led
sports utility vehicle the QX70, previously
known as the FX.
Special VIP tickets can be won for the
London Art Fair by simply following the
@InfinitiGB Twitter account and
retweeting the specific competition
tweet – closing date Midnight on Thursday
9th January.
Infiniti is also looking to the performing
arts by once again sponsoring Cirque
du Soleil. The innovative troupe's latest
trapeze, juggling and dance show,
Quidam, follows a young girl's escape
into the world of imagination. There is
no better place for her thoughts to get
lost in than at the Royal Albert Hall.
The show continues from now until
February 16.
The Infiniti and Cirque du Soleil partnership
is a natural fit. Each embodies
the spirit of performance, passion, precision
and provocation in order to turn
movement into an art form.
The global partnership between Infiniti
and Cirque du Soleil started in 2010
and has presented big top and arena
shows around the world, delighting audiences
with up to 20 simultaneous
shows on tour at a time.
The new Infiniti Design London (IDL)
studio is currently in construction.
More details of the centre will be rel
e a s e d c l o s e r t o t h e t i m e o f
completion, expected Spring 2014.

Motoring News
5
ALL-NEW FORD MUSTANG TO MAKE ITS
SILVER SCREEN DEBUT IN HIGHLY
ANTICIPATED MOVIE NEED FOR SPEED
Ford Mustang has been a star of the silver
screen and the small screen for
nearly 50 years, with more than 3,200
appearances in movies and television
shows. Now, the all-new Mustang is
getting off to a quick start with its
movie debut in Need for Speed on
March 14.
Need for Speed star Aaron Paul will
drive the custom 2014 Mustang hero
car in the highly anticipated movie
based on the long-running Electronic
Arts video game series, and will take
the wheel of the next-generation Mustang
in its first on-screen appearance
as well.
“On-screen or on the road, the sight
and sound of Mustang has been inspiring
fans for nearly five decades,” said
Jim Farley, Ford executive vice president,
global marketing, sales and service
and Lincoln. “The feeling of optimism
and being in control that Mustang’s
world-class power and performance
provide is a perfect match for
Aaron Paul’s character in Need for
Speed.”
When the original Mustang debuted in
April 1964, it was still an unknown
quantity, but the producers of Goldfinger
almost immediately cast a Wimbledon
white 1965 convertible in the
movie. Five decades later, Mustang is
an automotive and cultural icon, and
Need for Speed director Scott Waugh
wasted no time getting the new Mustang
into his film.
“I chose Mustang because it is a car
that really represents American
culture,” said Waugh. “It just represents
modern muscle, and it’s iconic,
having been in some of the greatest car
chase movies of all time.”
Chronicling the filmography of Mustang
is such an enormous job that it
took more than 100 contributors to
build out the MustangIMDB.com site
created by Stefan Thorarensen,
founder and board member of The Icelandic
Mustang Club. With more than
3,200 entries, the list grows almost daily.
Reflecting the importance of movies to
the Mustang story, Hollywood was selected
as one of six venues for the global
reveal of the all-new pony car on
Dec. 5, 2013. Mustang was driven out
onto a pad of wet cement in the forecourt
of the historic TCL Chinese Theatre.
Like nearly 200 human stars, including
several actors who helped
make Mustang a star of the silver
screen, the new pony had its prints and
signature logo preserved for posterity
in the cement.
Fans of the video game franchise already
have access to virtual drives of
the new Mustang, which became available
as a free in-game download in EA’s
Need for Speed Rivals in mid-December.
Players in the game can also customize
their Mustangs with a choice of
five popular designs created using the
online Mustang Customizer, including
one inspired by RTR founder and drift
champion Vaughn Gittin Jr.
2015 Ford Mustang
The all-new Mustang is the most advanced
version yet of the iconic pony
car. The sleek new design of Mustang
Fastback and Convertible is backed up
by world-class performance from a
range of available engines including a
new turbocharged EcoBoost® 2.3-litre
and 5.0-litre V8 with more than 426 PS.
In addition to state-of-the-art connectivity
systems, Mustang features available
advanced driver-assist systems,
track apps, launch control and more.
BENTLEY UNVEILS
LIMITED EDITION
BIRKIN MULSANNE
Bentley Motors today unveils a new
Limited Edition model exclusively for
European customers, the Birkin Mulsanne.
Taking inspiration from Sir Henry
‘Tiger’ Tim Birkin – the legendary Bentley
Boy who travelled and raced extensively
around Europe in the 1920s and
1930s – this new model features numerous
unique styling details and represents
the pinnacle of British luxury
motoring in its most discerning form.
The Limited Edition of just 22 cars is
available in three colour specifications:
a fresh and contemporary Ghost White,
Damson for a more vibrant touch, and
a sophisticated contrast of Fountain
Blue and Dark Sapphire, offering a
modern interpretation of the classic
two-tone Bentley paint design.
Numbered door sill plaques, a unique
21" wheel design inspired by those on
the original Mulsanne concept car, and
a striking 3D ‘Flying B’ logo stitched
into the vehicle headrests and inlaid
into the wood of the front fascia and
rear picnic tables, identify the Birkin
models. In addition, all three specifications
feature a stunning tailored luggage
set – each one hand-crafted, individually
numbered and matched with
the interior of each car.
Items have been selected for the Birkin
Limited Edition from the Mulsanne’s
extensive options list for the well-travelled
connoisseur and the Mulliner
Driving Specification delivers an en-

6 Motoring News
TOYOTA
REVEALS ITS
“ULTIMATE”
SPORTS COUPE
CONCEPT
A daring new Toyota coupe concept
breaks cover at the Detroit motor show
today. The new FT-1 concept is the result
of Toyota’s Calty design studio’s
mission to create the ultimate sports
car.
The California-based team, which celebrates
its 40th anniversary this year,
has produced a car that is strikingly
modern, yet which makes reference to
Toyota’s rich sports car history, going
back to the 2000GT of the mid-1960s.
The exterior captures the look of racecar
with a curvilinear form, pronounced
front wings and sharply defined
contrasts that express powerful
performance. The FT-1’s optimum
aerodynamic qualities are communicated
by its large air intakes, exhaust
ports and retractable rear wing.
sanne embodies the essence of Birkin’s
beliefs as motoring connoisseur. Now,
with its unique styling details and
exquisite specification, the Limited Edition
Birkin Mulsanne is an automotive
homage to one of Bentley’s most influential
visionaries.
The front engine/rear-wheel drive configuration
allows the cockpit to set further
towards the rear of the car, within
the wheelbase, helping improve weight
distribution and create classic sports
car proportions. The wraparound
windscreen and side glass arrangement
are a clear nod to the design of
the original 2000GT.
Traditionally Toyota’s design decisions
have been driven by consensus among
a large group of people; as part of a
company movement to give Toyota
products more energy and passion, the
process has been streamlined. This apgaging
motoring experience thanks to
a unique ‘Sport’ setting on the Drive
Dynamics Control system. An intricate
diamond quilting pattern to the seats
and door panels, complemented by an
indented leather headlining and ‘knurling’
details to the interior metalwork,
create a contemporary and tactile finish
to the cabin.
For those travelling in the rear of the
Birkin Mulsanne’s spacious cabin, the
Entertainment Specification offers a
luxurious and comfortable space to
work or relax while on the move. Each
car features exquisitely-packaged twin
8" LCD screens in the rear of the seat
headrests, a DVD player, a Wi-Fi
hotspot, the Naim for Bentley premium
audio system and iPads integrated into
the hand-crafted solid wood picnic tables.
A tribute to Tim Birkin
The muse for this Limited Edition Mulsanne,
Sir Henry Ralph Stanley ‘Tim’
Birkin, was celebrated as both racing
legend and unassuming style icon in
his time, epitomising the idea of the
British gentleman racer.
The Birkin Mulsanne specifications are
born from the idea of how Birkin would
commission a Bentley today. With its
effortless performance and luxurious
hand-crafted cabin, the Bentley Mul-
Birkin’s first Bentley was bought simply
out of a love of fine motoring, but over
time he became increasingly involved
with Bentley’s efforts on the road and
race track, culminating with his key
role in the development of the ‘Blower’
Bentley in 1928. Birkin saw that to retain
its competitive racing edge, the
company needed to increase the power
of the 130 bhp Bentley 4 ½ litre, and
so pushed to fit the car with a supercharger,
which increased power to an
impressive 242 bhp.
Birkin convinced company owner
Woolf Barnato and financial-backer
Dorothy Paget to support a production
run of 50 cars in order to qualify for Le
Mans. It was for this car – and his fearless
style of driving it – that Birkin is
perhaps best known.
The ergonomics of the cabin capitalise
on the car’s low centre of gravity, helping
the driver derive the maximum reward
from the driving experience. A
delta-shaped display zone helps make
the driver feel at the heart of the
action, fully connected to the car. This
quality is reinforced by the Formula 1-
style steering wheel and a colour headup
display that projects key information
just above the wheel. The designers
have pushed the A-pillars as far
back as possible, to increase visibility
when cornering.

Motoring News
7
proach has been fundamental to the
development of the FT-1, a concept
that captures Toyota’s aim of creating
cars that connect more deeply with
customers and generate a more satisfying
ownership experience.
AUDI AS
TRENDSETTER
AT LE MANS
For 15 years, Audi has been demonstrating
‘Vorsprung durch Technik’ in
the world’s toughest endurance race.
With the latest generation of the R18
e-tron quattro hybrid race car Audi
continues its string of technical innovations
at the Le Mans 24 Hours.
In 152 days from now, on June 14, the
82nd running of the French endurance

8 Motoring News
classic will start at 3 p.m. Interest in the
event is already exceptionally high. For
the first time, Audi and Porsche, the
race’s two most successful brands, will
be pitted against each other. Toyota,
after suffering two defeats against
Audi, is aiming to break the four rings’
string of victory at Le Mans. Plus, for
the first time, new regulations with a
main focus on energy efficiency will be
in effect – for Audi, the inventor of the
TDI, this will provide an opportunity to
again prove its great technical expertise
not only on the road but on the
race track.
Be it with the engine, hybrid drive,
lightweight design, or by setting standards
in active and passive safety:
Audi’s Le Mans prototypes are front
runners in terms of sporting performance
as well as technology. “Le Mans
is a unique test laboratory for our technologies,”
says Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg,
who is responsible for Technical
Development on the Board of Management
of AUDI AG. “The comprehensive
range of new technical developments
of our current Le Mans race car includes
the headlights with laser light.
They illuminate the track for a distance
of up to 800 meters. In a planned
derivation for production vehicles, they
achieve up to 500 meters, which is
twice the range of LED headlights. With
that, Audi is making an important contribution
to safety on the track and in
road traffic.”
Advanced engine technologies for
maximum efficiency
In 2001, an innovative V8 engine powered
the Audi R8. TFSI gasoline direct
injection metered the fuel in a way that
reduced the consumption of the V8 turbo
power-plant, improved responsiveness
and, due to the engine’s ability to
immediately start again, shortened the
stopping times in the pits while making
more power output available. Just
shortly following the first Le Mans success,
Audi’s customers were able to order
the first production models featuring
gasoline direct injection. This fuel
induction principle soon evolved into
the standard in large-volume production
series. Today, TFSI engines contribute
to the reduction of CO2 emissions
in millions of cars.
Five years after this debut, Audi
showed another pioneering achievement.
In the 2006 season, the Audi R10
TDI powered by a direct-injection
diesel engine won the endurance classic
at La Sarthe right on its first run.
Winning Le Mans with a diesel-powered
race car had been considered
wishful thinking until then – today, it is
regular reality. To date, Audi has won
the race seven times on TDI power,
with learning effects continually being
fed into the design of crankcases, pistons,
fuel injectors and other assemblies
in production development.
e-tron quattro hybrid drive takes Le
Mans victory
Audi was the first Le Mans participant
to win with a hybrid drive system and
therefore again made motorsport history.
2012 saw the first victory of the
Audi R18 e-tron quattro, a sports prototype
with a rear axle being powered by
a TDI internal combustion engine and a
front axle driven by electric power. A
fully electronic control strategy was the
only connection between the two drive
systems. In parallel, Audi also expanded
its product range by hybrid models.
The next generation is now ready for
launch. In 2014, Audi starts delivering
the A3 Sportback e-tron, a latest-generation
plug-in hybrid. In racing, the new
2014-specification R18 e-tron quattro
is pointing the way to the future. The
Audi engineers have fundamentally redesigned
it, as the race car has to manage
both, running on a limited amount
of energy and achieving the best lap
times.
Highly sophisticated detailed solutions
for higher safety and lower
weight
In addition to the pioneering powertrain
solutions, Audi has been setting
standards in other areas as well. Perfect
lightweight design combined with
maximum passive safety is manifested
in the safety cell of the sports cars. The
monocoque made of carbon fibre reinforced
plastics (CFRP) in 2013 weighed
only half as much as the one used in
Audi’s first LMP race car in 1999 – despite
greater restrictions specified by
the regulations. This material has long
made its way into production vehicles,
for instance in body components of the
R8, the R8 Spyder and the RS 3. Active
safety has been significantly improved
by Audi with ever new lighting technologies.
The LED daytime running
light in the Audi R10 TDI (2006–2008)
was followed by full LED headlights in
the R18 TDI (2011), matrix LED technology
in the R18 e-tron quattro (2012–
2013) and the innovative laser light in
the next R18 e-tron quattro (from
2014). The digital rear-view mirror with
a camera projecting the action at the
rear on an innovative AMOLED display
in the cockpit, which has been used
since the 2012 season, reflects another
future trend.
“The general public and the motorsport
audience have come to expect
Audi to play this part of a trendsetter,”
says Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang
Ullrich. “We are proud to be at the
very front with these innovations in our
motorsport commitment, while benefiting
from Audi Sport being a part of
the Technical Development of AUDI AG
on a daily basis. We aim to continue to
prove the Audi-typical ‘Vorsprung
durch Technik’ in tough racing conditions
with our Le Mans prototypes in
the future – even though in 2014 we’re
no doubt facing the greatest challenge
ever at Le Mans.”

Motoring News
9
NINE DECADES OF BENTLEY TO
RACE TOGETHER AT DONINGTON
PARK

10 Motoring News
On Saturday, June 7th 2014, Donington
Park will reverberate to the unmistakable
sound of Bentley engines spanning
nine decades, as Bentleys of all
ages come together in a unique onemarque
race.
This spectacular sight of the iconic
British marque at the legendary British
circuit celebrates the 90th anniversary
of Bentley’s first win at Le Mans and is
being staged by the Bentley Drivers
Club (BDC) at the AMOC Donington
race meeting.
Already a tradition at the BDC annual
race meeting at Silverstone, models
spanning the decades will be out on
track together for a 20-minute scratch
race at Donington Park, a favourite circuit
of racing legends and spectators
alike. The sight and sound of Bentleys
just a few months old hurtling towards
Redgate or weaving their way round
the Craner Curvers side by side with
Bentleys old enough to be their grandparents
- or even great-grandparents -
is sure to be one race that fans will never
forget.
Showcasing the racing heritage and diversity
of the marque, this is a fabulous
opportunity to witness some simultaneous
open- and closed-wheel racing,
with speed differentials equivalent to
that at Le Mans between the prototypes
and GT touring cars, as 3-litres,
3/4½s, 3/8’s, 4½s, Derbys, Mark VI Specials,
the explosive 24-litre Bentley
Napier and the Worthington brothers’
Mulsanne Turbo and technicolour Continental
GT demonstrate their paces.
Duncan Wiltshire, Race Co-Ordinator
for AMOC Racing, said “AMOC Racing
are delighted that the Bentley Drivers
Club will be racing at the AMOC Donington
race meeting. Given the warm
relations between the Aston Martin
Owners Club and the Bentley Drivers
Club over many decades, the Bentley
race is a most fitting and welcome addition
to our programme, which includes
races for the AMOC Intermarque
Championship, 50s Sports Cars and
‘Equipe’ GTs.”
Bentley Drivers Club Competitions
Captain Sebastian Welch added, “The
BDC is a comparatively small club, and
organising a one-marque race at another
race meeting is a significant
achievement. We are thrilled to be celebrating
the 90th anniversary of the
first Bentley Le Mans win in this way
with an extra race, and would like to
thank AMOC Racing for inviting us to
stage the race at AMOC Donington. We
are sure it will prove hugely enjoyable
for competitors and spectators.”
THE LEGENDARY ‘MONTE’:
VOLKSWAGEN STARTS THE
WRC WITH A CLASSIC
From the hunter to the hunted: Volkswagen’s
mission to defend its titles in
the FIA World Rally Championship
(WRC) opens with a genuine motorsport
classic at the Rally Monte Carlo,
as the “Monte” is the oldest rally in the
world. From 14 to 19 January, the
French pairing of Sébastien Ogier and
Julien Ingrassia will line up for the first
time as defending World Champions in
both the Driver and Co-Driver competitions.
Together with team-mates Jari-
Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN),
they are the team to beat in the Manufacturers’
Championship, in which they
can also count on able assistance from
Andreas Mikkelsen/Mikko Markkula (N/
FIN). The first of the 13 rallies on the
2014 calendar is immediately one of
the hardest nuts to crack in the WRC.
Virtually unpredictable conditions and
15 testing special stages on asphalt, ice
and snow in the French Maritime Alps,
not to mention night stages and temperatures
well below freezing – the Rally
Monte Carlo is one of the greatest
challenges in motorsport.
“We line up at the Rally Monte Carlo
with start number 1 on one of our Polo
R WRCs for the first time,” said Volkswagen
Motorsport Director Jost Capito.
“This honour is reserved for the
World Champion, and is something we
are very proud of. However, this does
not mean that we will be arrogant or
complacent this season – particularly
not at the iconic ‘Monte’. We will approach
it with the greatest respect,
maximum concentration, and absolute
commitment. It is easier to win a World
Championship title than it is to defend
it. And that is our goal. The 2014
‘Monte’ will give us the first indication
of where we stand compared to the
new-look opposition. We are looking
forward to it.”
Victory at the “Monte” – a question of
prestige
Formula One Grand Prix in Monaco, the
Le Mans 24 Hours, the Indianapolis
500, the Rally Dakar and the Rally
Monte Carlo – they are the five most
prestigious motorsport competitions in
the world. This year’s “Monte”, as the
mother of all WRC rallies is affectionately
known by fans, features four former
winners. Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia,
now driving for Volkswagen,
won in 2009. They were followed in
2010 by Mikko Hirvonen/Jarmo Lehtinen,
who will race for Ford in 2014, and
fellow Ford pairing Bryan Bouffier/
Xavier Panseri who triumphed in 2011.
However, all three of these duos are
missing the icing on the cake – their
victories all came in the IRC (Intercontinental
Rally Challenge) in a car complying
with the Super 2000 regulations.
A “Monte” win in the World Rally
Championship? Only old hand François
Delecour from France – also in action
for Ford in 2014 – can boast one of
those.
New rules, new challenge
A new sporting format and a new challenger
– the 2014 World Rally Championship
season has a number of new
features for fans and competitors alike.
The previous qualifying procedure at
gravel rallies is omitted. Instead, the
starting order will now be based on the
c u r r e n t W o r l d C h a m p i o n s h i p
standings. Detailed amendments have
also been made to the rules allowing
competitors to return under Rally2 regulations.
Over the course of the season, the
itineraries for the rounds of the World
Rally Championship will be standardised.
In the future, the rallies will all begin
with the start ceremony on Thursday
and end with Sunday’s final stage
at about midday. The final special
stage will always form the so-called
Power Stage, in which bonus points are
up for grabs in the Drivers’ and Co-
Drivers’ Championship for the first
three cars. However, the “Monte” is an
exception to the rule when it comes to
the itinerary: it ends with the final special
stage – “Sospel – Breil-sur-Roya” –
in the dark on Saturday evening.
Home race for Sébastien Ogier – Gap
hosts “Monte” start
Home banker? Well, there can certainly
be no doubting that this is a home race
for one man. The Rally Monte Carlo begins
in the birthplace of the reigning
World Rally Champion – in Gap. The
town, with a population of 40,000,
hosts the opening two days of the
Rally, before the WRC circus heads to
Monaco. For Sébastien Ogier, this
means both an extra incentive and a
little extra pressure. Scores of friends
and family are expected in his home
town to support the Volkswagen works
driver at the start of the “Monte”.
Ice spies and tyre tactics – skill and
flair are the order of the day in the
Alps
Rain in the Service Park, dry conditions
at the start of the stage, snow in the
middle and ice at the end – the standard
madness at the Rally Monte Carlo.
Selecting the right tyres for a loop consisting
of three special stages is a real
gamble. Winter tyres with and without
spikes, soft and super-soft slicks are
available to the drivers, who can call
on the detailed information they receive
from their trusted ice spies.
Nowhere in the World Rally Championship
is it more important for the
weather crew to be perfectly coordi-

Motoring News
11
nated and communicate clearly than at
the legendary “Monte”.
1 5 s p e c i a l s t a g e s , o v e r 3 8 0
kilometres, two Service Parks
The Rally Monte Carlo traditionally
winds its way through the French Maritime
Alps and thus through the hinterland
of the principality. The mother of
all the stages on the 2014 rally promises
to be the special stage between Vitrolles
and Faye. At 49.03 kilometres, it
is one of the longest on the WRC calendar.
The final stage, from Sospel to
Breil-sur-Roya, will also play a crucial
role. Its 16.55 kilometres form the Power
Stage. The fastest three cars here
will earn bonus points towards the
championship. The anomaly: starting
at just after nine o’clock in the evening,
the Power Stage at the “Monte” will
take place in the dark. The Service
Parks are another anomaly: the cars
will be maintained in Gap on the opening
two days of the Rally, with the harbour
in Monaco – a stone’s throw from
the famous Rascasse corner from the
Formula One Grand Prix – providing
the backdrop to the second Service
Park on the final two days.
Quotes ahead of the Rally Monte Carlo
Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R
WRC #1
“Our main goal is obviously to defend
the title. It is never easy to win a title,
but successfully defending it is even
more difficult. I am certain that the
other teams will put us under pressure.
However, I am confident about the new
season on the back of such a successful
2013. We have made small improvements
to the Polo R WRC. For example,
it is now even more reliable. A new
manufacturer is joining the series in
2014, in the form of Hyundai, and this
will make the competition even fiercer.
That is what I am really looking forward
to in Monte Carlo. I am also
pleased that the ‘Monte’ will start from
my home town of Gap this year. That is
an extra incentive for me to be the
fastest come the end of the rally.”
Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R
WRC #2
“For me, the start of the new season is
a completely different situation to one
year ago. Back then, both the team and
the car were new to us. We are now familiar
with everything. However, the
first rally of the season in Monte Carlo
is always a challenge. I will try to finish
in the top five at the ‘Monte’. The Rally
Monte Carlo is an extremely unusual
rally. Tyres will play a major role, as the
Service Park is not located in the
mountains. As such, you have to speculate
on what the weather will be like up
there. The ‘Monte’ features 30-kilometre
special stages, on which you are
driving on dry asphalt for 20 kilometres
and ice for the remaining ten. 20 kilometres
of asphalt on spikes is just as
awkward as 10 kilometres of ice on
slicks. Choosing the right tyre is the
biggest challenge. Do you opt for snow
tyres with spikes, snow tyres without
spikes, super-soft slicks or soft slicks?
You have to find the perfect compromise
between these four options.”
Andreas Mikkelsen, Volkswagen Polo
R WRC #9
“The main goal is to claim the odd
podium finish in 2014. This is only my
second ‘Monte’. I lined up there in 2011
and crashed out on the first special
stage. This means the ‘Monte’ is a completely
new experience for me. As such,
I will not put all my eggs in one basket,
but will take a rather cautious approach.
My goal is to complete the rally
and finish in the points. I did not race
at the ‘Monte’ last year, so my expectations
there are not as high as the rallies
I drove in 2013. I would be happy to get
through the Rally Monte Carlo without
any mistakes this year.”
Did you know ...
... the Polo R WRC completed the first
special stage in its World Championship
history at the Rally Monte
Carlo? Sébastien Ogier caused quite a
shock in winning last year’s opening
stage, “Le Moulinon”.
…the Rally Monte Carlo was not originally
planned as a motorsport event?
Back at the start of the 20th century,
the residents of Monaco were looking
to attract tourists to the Côte d’Azur in
the winter months. It was for this reason
that Prince Albert I gave the green
light for the inaugural “Monte” in 1911.
… the first “Monte” in 1911 started
from Paris? 23 cars started out from the
French capital, crossing the finish line
in Monte Carlo 1,020 kilometres later.
… the first winner of the “Monte” was
Henri Rougier (F)? The cyclist, pilot and
racing driver from Marseille crossed the
line first in his Turcat-Méry 24CV.
… the first Rally Monte Carlo was not
just about speed? Besides the time
spent driving, a jury was also on hand
to judge the elegance and comfort of
the cars, as well as their condition
when they reached the finish.
The numbers for the Rally Monte Carlo:
“15”, “17”, “18”
Chassis number 15, 17 and 18 will be
used at the Rally Monte Carlo for the
Polo R WRCs driven by Andreas
Mikkelsen, Sébastien Ogier and Jari-
Matti Latvala. This is already the sixth
rally for chassis number 15, with which
Andreas Mikkelsen made his Volkswagen
debut in the World Rally Championship
in Portugal last season. The
youngster then used the same chassis
in Greece, Finland, France and Great
Britain. Chassis number 17 was run
solely on asphalt by Sébastien Ogier in
2013 – in Germany and France. Jari-
Matti Latvala will take his place in
chassis number 18 for the second time,
having previously used it at the Rally
Germany.
FIA World Rally Championship (WRC),
2013 final standings
Drivers’ Championship
1. Sébastien Ogier, 290 points; 2. Thierry
Neuville, 176; 3. Jari-Matti Latvala,
162; 4. Mikko Hirvonen, 126; 5. Daniel
Sordo, 123; 6. Mads Østberg, 102; 7.
Evgeny Novikov, 69;
8. Sébastien Loeb, 68; 9. Martin Prokop,
63; 10. Andreas Mikkelsen, 50; 11. Nasser
Al-Attiyah, 30; 12. Elfyn Evans, 20; 13.
Robert Kubica, 18; 14. Bryan Bouffier,
10; 15. Juho Hänninen, 8; 16. Chris
Atkinson, 8; 17. Jari Ketomaa, 8; 18.
H a yden Pa d d o n , 8 ; 1 9 . M i c h a l
Kosciuszko, 7; 20. Ken Block, 6; 21.
Khalid Al Qassimi, 5; 22. Sepp Wiegand,
4; 23. Per-Gunnar Andersson, 4; 24.
Benito Guerra, 4; 25. Henning Solberg,
4; 26. Nathan Quinn, 4; 27. Olivier Burri,
2; 28. Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari, 2; 29.
Yazeed Al Rajhi, 1; 30. Esapekka Lappi,
1; 31. Romain Dumas, 1; 32. Mark Higgins,
1.
Manufacturers’ Championship
1. Volkswagen Motorsport, 425; 2. Citroën
Total Abu Dhabi World Rally
Team, 280;
3. Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team,
190; 4. Qatar World Rally Team, 184; 5.
Jipocar Czech National Team, 65; 6.
Abu Dhabi Citroën Total World Rally
Team, 63;
7. Volkswagen Motorsport II, 50; 8. Lotos
Team WRC, 20.
VOLVO CARS AT
THE 2014 DETROIT
MOTOR SHOW:
INSIDE OUT: VOLVO
CARS REVEALS
VERSATILE
INTERIOR FOR THE
CONCEPT XC
COUPÉ
The 2014 North American International
Auto Show in Detroit hosts the world
premiere of Volvo Car Group’s (Volvo
Cars) new Concept XC Coupé – the second
of three concept cars that showcase
the company’s future design direction.
The interior of the car is displayed
on the stand in the form of a 1:1
scale hanging sculpture, making all the
details and functionality of the versatile
interior visible to all visitors to the
stand.
In common with the highly-acclaimed
and award-winning Volvo Concept
Coupé, Senior Vice President of Design
at Volvo Cars Thomas Ingenlath and his
team use the Concept XC Coupé to
demonstrate the design possibilities of
Volvo Cars’ new Scalable Product Architecture
(SPA) that will underpin all
cars from Volvo Cars in the future,
starting with the all-new Volvo XC90
that premieres later this year.
And while the earlier Concept Coupé
showcased proportions of a sleek
coupé, the Volvo Concept XC Coupé
has a strong connection to both an active
outdoor lifestyle and Volvo Cars’
aim to offer customers a world-class
safety and support package.
“Enjoying a car with great power and
capabilities, at the same time as you
are safe and protected, gives a great
feeling of joy and freedom,” said
Thomas Ingenlath, Senior Vice President
Design at Volvo Cars.
The Concept XC Coupé is also presented
alongside a separate interior sculpture.
“We wanted to create a piece of art
which also highlighted the conceptual
and innovative stowage area. And to be
able to show it to all stand attendees,
rather than just those getting close to
the car, we created the sculpture in
satin white and dark glass that covers
the stowage area and extreme skiing

12 Motoring News
equipment. A true piece of art placed in
a world of functional design,” said
Robin Page, Director Interior Design at
Volvo Cars.
The interior sculpture emphasizes Volvo
Cars’ philosophy of “Designed
Around You” by focusing on how the
stowage area is cleverly designed to accommodate
customers’ outdoor activity
equipment. The sculpture shows
how the designers have designed a wet
and dry compartment for equipment in
a modern and aesthetically clean way.
“The colour scheme and modern design
language illustrates our connection
and influence from modern design
products for outdoor activities as being
produced by companies such as POC,
based in Sweden,” said Thomas Ingenlath.
“The part I am most proud of is
creating something so unique and
fresh in an industry that mostly works
to quiet traditional ways of showing
new products. To me this is a true piece
of art.”
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