The event begins

wet and dry conditions and has much improved longevity and safety. Which is exactly what we're all looking for in a tyre?  Along with around 40 plus car enthusiasts in attendance, I can hand over heart say this tyre is groundbreaking.

Michelin have, of course, a wealth of experience and the authority to make this happen with their 13 consecutive years of Le Mans victories. What Michelin have done with this tyre is to tap into their experience and create something that is not only quicker and more predictable but better in both dry and wet conditions in any tyre I have seen before.

Michelin Super Sport

The Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyre was developed for dual purpose. To deliver the ultimate driving experience, while at the same time ensuring maximum safety, even in extreme driving conditions. The combination of driving enjoyment and safety performance proved paramount in the product development phase of this tyre and was conducted in conjunction with Porsche, BMW M division and Ferrari.

Well, here is my story of an estimated 10,000bhp, an empty Dubai race track and over £2million worth of cars. (Add to this my lack of any supercar driver skills whatsoever and you get the perfect recipie for a great day.)

Yes...that does say 1015bhp

Shaving five seconds off a 2.7 kilometre lap - Merci bien coup Michelin!

In track testing at a 2.7 kilometre circuit in Germany, the new Michelin Pilot Supersport shaved five seconds off lap times set by its predecessor, the Pilot Sport 2.  The PS2 was already awesome anyway...so am sure you are in agreement that five seconds is a lot! So whats the marketing spiel?  Actually there is none, even with my horrible driving skill and an inability to command my left foot to hit the break pedal, I was able to notice a real difference. One day I'll join the left foot braking club. One day.

The Super Sport offers the dry grip of the Pilot Sport 2 and the wet grip of the Pilot Sport 3, so it’s as quick as a Pilot Sport Cup, but with better wet surface water displacement. I would actually describe it as having better dry grip that the PS2 (if that possible), yet fantastic wet grip that gives you confidence in all conditions. We've all being there with the PS2 in the wet right? Fun - absolutley...scary? Quite often!  The Super Sport solves this problem by offering massive grip and feel in both wet and dry conditions. All good so far!

The days agenda

Now this isn't being copied and pasted from some press release...or something I heard. I was there. And jumping from a Carerra S (such a tight car) running a competitor tyre to another exact specked Carerra S running the Super Sports I was very impressed with the noticeable performance improvement.  It really hit home that something we all tend to forget, the tyre is what's connecting you to the ground and the most important safety and performance tool you have at your disposal.

For me it was all about confidence. Others on the day agreed that, when taking a car to the limit, the Super Sport really allowed you to push with confidence, while at the same time gave you warning when you were about to go over the edge.

As this tyre has been developed with Porsche, BMW M  and Ferrari, Michelin had laid on some amazing machines for us to test the tyre with.

First glimpse of the lineup!

£2million of Metal 10,000BHP

Picture walking out onto the Dubai Autodrome track with around £2million pounds worth of metal and you get the idea. £2million is of course not that hard a figure to reach when you include a Koenissegg and Gumpert. Michelin made a real effort to get their message across and put together some great workshops for us all to fully understand what we should look for and expect from tyre testing. This ensured we got the maximum enjoyment from this tyre testing experience. It made the day so much more focussed, although I have to admit that I had one eye on the presentation and one on the shiny white 911 Turbo that seemed to be calling out to me. (I've become somewhat obsessed with the Turbo's side air intakes of late, and yes I acknowledge this is rather sad).

We started the day off with a combination of wet and braking tests. After a quick safety brief, we jumped into the first car of the day, the Audi TT (such a nice drive) round a wet oval track. The instructors gave us fantastic guidance on what to look for and really encouraged us to push the tyres as hard as we could. We then tested breaking distance by driving at 85 kmph and hitting

Nice welcome in the hotel lobby

the brakes as hard as we could. My ability to be rubbish at driving fast, and now apparently rubbish at braking is becoming slightly depressing.

We completed both exercises in the Super Sports and competitor’s rubber to give a fair balanced view. Michelin engineers were monitoring the results of what was an incredibly varied group of drivers and the results were plain to see. The Super Sports out-braked and held grip noticibaly better that their competitors. Simple. I have to say the results would have been even better if the sight of a Merc SLS in the distance hadn't made me lose concentration and forget to brake, the poor road cones did not survive our altercation. Yes...the Super Sports are great for killing road cones too.

First play in a 997 of the day

The next session involved us completing two hot laps in a Super Sport clad Carerra S, followed by two hot laps in a competitor clad S, then back to the Super Sport kitted out car. Again, for me it was all about confidence. Now I'm no racing driver. Heck, I get nervous in anything over 100bhp, but in the Super Sport car I really felt able to relax and drive harder into the bends. Yes, I still had some moments where I nearly lost it, but these were few and far between and definitely down to my driving rather than the car. Jumping from the Super Sport to the competitor brand completely changed the driving experience and I was noticeably more cautious entering and exiting bends.

Keeping my Lunch Down...just.

After a spot of lunch and some great conversation with other like minded car enthusiasts from all around the world (and yes you could spot the Porsche guys a mile off), we headed to the main area of the track and the pit lane. We were all pointed to the safety room, (slight diversion was called for after spotting a Koeniggsegg, Gumpert Apollo, Mercedes SLS) to be told that the afternoon session would be two fold. Part 1 - out with Michelin Test Pilots. Part 2 - free reign of cars and track. The atmosphere in the room was hilarious as around 40 grown men started jumping around and behaving like thirteen year old boys, while trying to remain 'cool'. Of course, we all remained professional and focussed. It was all about the tyres ;o)

Okay, not a Porsche, but couldn't resist!

I managed to grab a hot lap or two with a Porsche Test Driver in a Carerra S, along with an AMG Test Driver in the new SLS (I couldn't resist) and I have to say, this was both scary and educational at the same time. Both drivers took great care to 1. not kill me, and 2. explain how they tested the tyres. I learnt alot from this session with the Porsche driver explaining what Porsche demand of their tyre performance. Next time you walk into the tyre shop or your dealer to make tyre choice, rest assured that Porsche have developed and researched which tyre suits which model extensively. Price becomes almost irrelevant! All this made a lot of sense and again it hit home just how important tyre choice can be. I would now 100% say that tyre choice can massivly affect the driving experience.

After getting myself together and somehow managing to keep my lunch down, it was onto the next session. Picture 40 grown adults standing in front of around 20 cars including: M3, Lambo Gallardo, Merc SLS, Audi R8, 997 S, 997 Turbo, TTS, Tuned Mercedes (1015bhp anyone?!?!), and even the new B5 Alpina family car (which was freaking amazing actually and I want one). I have to say that this was one of the most surreal experiences I've had in my life. So...what to choose?  Time seemed to stand still (I panicked) and as I heard 20 car doors clunck shut and an estimated 10,000 bhp rev in front of me I realised I'd been frozen to the spot as everyone else hopped into their car of choice!!  Bollocks. Oh well, at least the weathers nice.  Time for some photos of the track.

Most exciting car of the day

Eeek..a bloody corner!

Not to worry as, around 10 mins later they all came back into the paddock and I jumped into a 997 Turbo. Heart beating, and after a slight fashion misdemenour with helmet / Ray Ban combo I was ready to go. The track was hot and the cars even hotter, but as I said a prayer and nailed it out of the pit everything was good in life. Then...bang, a bloody corner! The first corner after the main straight is tight. Tighter than I thought, and I hit it harder that I meant to. The turbo is so stable anyway, but my entry speed was way beyond what I'd call my limit. However, the car stuck. I made it round with a yelp and a shriek and nailed it towards the next corner. Phew! What saved me? Was it prayer in the pit? Possibly. Was it the tyres? Probably.  However, looking back, it wasn't some crazy injection of new found driving ability or divine intervention that stopped me from crashing a £130k Porsche turbo, it was the tyres.  So much grip and control.

The next couple of hours of the day were a dream, with hot lap after hot lap in the car of your choice. As the sun set, and the layout of the track was embedded in my mind,  I just settled down and enjoyed the experience. With so many cars on offer, I couldn't resist playing in some other models too and with my own personal need (or at least the wife’s need) for boot space and baby seat, special compliment to the new B5 Bi-turbo Alpina.  Tell you what though...I always went back to Porsche. Most exciting car of the day? 997 Turbo. Without a doubt. My new problem? Can I sell my house and buy one without said wife finding out.

Riding into the sunset

After what was a massively enjoyable and educational day, the conversation returned to the real point of the day. The new Michelin Pilot Super Sport. So is it game changing?

In my experience, I would say yes. The combination of wet and dry performance was obvious to both experienced and inexperienced drivers alike. From my own experience, and testing by independent organisations such as the TÜV Rheinl nd Group, along with the feedback from those I discussed this with over dinner, these tyres really are a massive advance in performance.

Congratulations to Michelin for engineering the tyres and for making advances in the field.

Where to buy Michelin Pilot Super Sports

We have being doing some research and speaking to other drivers and here are the two best places to pick up these group breaking tyres.

• If you are in the USA then we highly recommend shopping for Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires at Tire Rack.
• If you are in the UK, then we highly recommend shopping for Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres at mytyres.co.uk

Now for the techy bit!! All you tyre nerds ready?

To improve the tire’s road-holding and braking ability and thereby its overall safety performance, even in the most extreme conditions, while also providing excellent mileage, Michelin has uniquely combined three technologies, including two developed

The Michelin Pilot Super Sport

for tyres used at the 24 hours of Le Mans:  the Twaron® fibre belt as well as the bi-compound tread band and the variable contact Patch 2.0, both of which were derived from innovations validated and used in endurance racing. The combination has produced exceptional results that are likely to win over the most demanding manufacturers of cars in the ultra high-performance segment.

As a result, the new Michelin Pilot Super Sports tyre has key advantages that enable it to rise to the challenge posed by its predecessor, the Michelin Pilot sport PS2, which was certified as original equipment on more than 200 vehicles.

In a test conducted in 2010 by TUV, The Michelin Pilot Super Sport outperformed its five leading competitors in speed and dry road-holding the  independent testing organization, using size 245/40 ZR 18 y and 235/35 ZR 19 y tyres.

Bi-Compound Tread

I'd so have one of these.

Originally developed for racing tires, the innovation of bi-compound tread uses different rubber compounds on the left and right sides of the tread.

On the outside, a unique, carbon black-reinforced elastomer (developed specifically for the 24 hours of Le Mans) ensures exceptional endurance when corners are tight.

On the inside, a latest-generation, high-grip elastomer enables the tyre (on wet surfaces) to break through the water’s surface and adhere to even the slightest irregularity in the road.

Variable Contact Patch

Thanks to the latest digital simulation software used in the aeronautics and automobile industries, pressure, and consequently temperatures, are spread evenly across the tire’s contact patch. Although the patch’s shape changes when cornering, the amount of rubber in contact with the road remains the same. This helps prefent overheating and gives consistent and predictable grip.

It's all about the Twaron® Belt!

A high-density ultra light fibre used in cutting-edge equipment for sports such as tennis, sailing and mountain biking – as well as in aeronautics, protective military gear and motorsports – Twaron® provides the Michelin Pilot Super Sport with superior high-speed stability.

Took me ages to work out the door opening (

Due to its variable tension, the belt tightens the tread more than the shoulders. as a result, centrifugal force is more effectivelyovercome and pressure is more evenly distributed. A key feature of Twaron® is its high grip-resistance. Strong and light at the same time, Twaron® is five times more resistant than steel at equivalent weight.

So, when can I get one, and will they fit my car?

The tyres are due out early 2011 and will be initially released in the following sizes.

Tyre size range
225/45 ZR 18 (95 Y) XL
245/45 ZR 18 (100 Y) XL
245/40 ZR 18 (97 Y) XL
265/40 ZR 18 (101 Y) XL

225/40 ZR 19 (93 Y) XL

All set

225/35 ZR 19 (88 Y) XL
235/35 ZR 19 (91 Y) XL
245/35 ZR19 (93 Y) XL
255/35 ZR 19 (96 Y) XL
265/30 ZR 19 (93 Y) XL
275/35 ZR 19 (100 Y) XL
275/30 ZR 19 (96 Y) XL
295/30 ZR 19 (100 Y) XL
305/30 ZR 19 (102 Y) XL

The days cars

235/35 ZR 20 (92 Y) XL K1
255/35 ZR 20 OPEN ZR
275/35 ZR 20 OPEN ZR
275/30 ZR 20 OPEN ZR
285/30 ZR 20 (99 Y) XL K1
285/30 ZR 20 OPEN ZR
285/25 ZR 20 (93 Y) XL
295/25 ZR 20 (95 Y) XL
295/35 ZR 20 (101 Y) K1
295/25 ZR 20 (95 Y) XL
315/35 ZR 20 (110 Y) XL K1
345/30 ZR 20 (106 Y)

255/30 ZR 21 (93 Y) XL
265/30 ZR 21 OPEN ZR
295/30 ZR 21 OPEN ZR

295/25 ZR 21 (96 Y) XL

235/30 ZR 22 OPEN ZR
265/30 ZR 22 OPEN Z

Where to buy Michelin Pilot Super Sports?

If you are in the USA then we highly recommend shopping forMichelin Pilot Super Sport tires at Tire Rack.

If you are in the UK, then we highly recommend shopping forMichelin Pilot Super Sport tyres at mytyres.co.uk

More information

Honest John has put together a great video from the day which can be checked out here:

Michelin website also has further information at http://www.michelin.co.uk/tyres/

The 5 most successful teams

• Porsche: 16 wins
• Audi: 10 wins
• Ferrari: 9 wins
• Jaguar: 7 wins
• Bentley: 6 wins

Le Mans is renowned for its technical innovation. Its twin demands – speed and lengthy endurance – have meant that manufacturers have had to adapt and work hard at producing the most efficient cars for this unique race.

Regulations have changed over the years, and race teams have had to think on their feet continually. For example, in the early 1970s the oil crisis meant that the amount of fuel cars could use was capped, forcing manufacturers into extremely fuel-efficient designs.

Likewise, when the race first ran (in 1923), there were no rules about how many drivers could be used, so teams would typically only use two – although some (famously Pierre Levegh and Eddie Hall) ran solo in an attempt to save time. In the 1990s regulations were introduced to reduce the danger of driver fatigue, and now drivers cannot run for more than four hours consecutively and fourteen hours overall.

Porsche will look to build on its RS Spyder’s motorsport success and induce a smooth transition to Le Mans. The manufacturer also seems likely to introduce a completely new type of supercar – Porsche’s GT3 R Hybrid promises another new direction in racing technology. Shortly before the announcement of their intention to return to Le Mans, a Porsche 911 won the Nurburgring 24-hour race with a Hybrid 911 finishing for the very first time – ominous signs indeed for Porsche’s competitors.

So, it’s all change in the world of motorsport. Again. The rally driving experience may be unrecognisable to the Le Mans forefathers of the 1920s, but Porsche’s return would put them at ease. Driving experience days are the closest most of us get to motor racing, but having Porsche back on our screens is a not a bad second best.

Just what is it about the car that turned so many heads at the Geneva Motor Show? Well, on top of the fact that it is quite easily the most stunning eco-friendly vehicle ever created, there’s a 4.0-litre 500bhp V8 engine, which will combine with duel electric motors at the front and rear to provide an extra 218bhp. It is being reported that the car will reach speeds of 62mph in 3.2 seconds.

It takes about 3 hours to charge the lithium-ion liquid-cooled battery. On electricity alone, it is predicted that the car is able to drive for around 16 miles, but the wisest way of handling your vehicle is the hybrid mode, which utilises both petrol and electricity. Drivers can choose the Hybrid Race mode, which is suitable for use on track days, and also the Hybrid Sport mode, which is suitable for off-road driving days in the countryside.

Although this car is undoubtedly forward-thinking and revolutionary, it is almost certainly out of most people’s price range. It could be argued that if people wish to save the environment and use sustainable and renewable energy, then they need to be multi-millionaires. This is, of course, not true. If you can afford one of these beasts, then why not buy one. For the rest of us, though, we can set our sights on something a little cheaper such as a Toyota Prius Hybrid.

Visit link:
Drive this Porsche and you Just Might Forsake all Others

The recently released Porsche 911 Carrera GTS falls between the Porsche Carrera S and the GT3. The new Carrera, which has just become available this year, comes as a coupe or cabriolet, priced at £78,371 ($103,100) and £85,249 ($112,900) respectively. The 408-horsepower Porsche 911 Carrera GTS with PDK is rated with a 10.2 litres per 100 kilometres, or 19 miles per gallon city and 27 miles per gallon highway fuel consumption and a 240g/km CO² emissions level.

The bodywork is similar to that of the Carrera 4, though it is 44 millimetres wider and has a wider rear track and wheels. The GTS has rear-wheel drive, and the wheels themselves are 19-inch centre-mounted, black RS Spyder wheels. The car was also designed with both performance and efficiency in mind – it consumes about the same amount of fuel as the 911 Carrera S. As for the physical appearance of the car, there is the SportDesign front apron with black spoiler edge and black sideskirts. The standard interior colour is black Alcantara, which is also on the new SportDesign, three-spoke steering wheel. The two tailpipes, which are dual tipped, are also painted black.

The engine is a 3.9-litre flat-six engine. While the Carrera S power unit only had one tuning flap, the Carrera GTS tuning flaps, which are controlled by vacuums, switch between power and torque-optimised geometry, which provides increased torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels. The manual six-speed transmission is standard, but the seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) double-clutch gearbox is also an additional option. Porsche claims the zero to 100 kilometres per hour acceleration time of the Carrera GTS coupe in Sport Plus mode with the seven-speed PDK transmission and the Sport Chrono Package Plus is 4.2 seconds, which is 0.1 seconds faster than the Carrera S. The car’s speed tops off at 306 kilometres per hour, although drivers might only be able to reach it on track days or driving days on the Autobahn.

ode with the seven

How do you encapsulate a company into words that has dominated, succeeded and inspired for so many decades? Porsche has been leading the way in innovation, design and engineering for years and it doesn’t look like they will be stopping any time soon. Here’s a brief history lesson on why Porsche has become such a worldwide powerhouse.

Like all successful manufacturers, Porsche had the eccentric visionary who started it all. Ferdinand Porsche is one of those godfather figures in the motoring landscape. Like Enzo Ferrari and Sir William Lyons, he was a pioneer that changed the way people thought of German sports cars. He was responsible for creating one of the most iconic marques in the history of the motorcar; Porsche – and is subsequently responsible for one of the company’s finest efforts; the Porsche 911.

Production of the 911 started in the early 1960s and was viewed as a replacement for the aging 356. Little did they know that nearly 50 years on and the 911 would still be one of the most sought after sports cars on the planet. The first variant of the 911 family was a design classic – but it featured an interesting characteristic; the engine was mounted at the rear of the car. We all know of the reputation old 911s have. The image of an out-of-control, over steering 911 is something the company has tried desperately to shrug off and amend since it launched – did they succeed? Of course they did, they are German’s after all.

It was 1973 when we first saw the name Carrera on a 911. The 911 RS Carrera was a homologation special edition for racing and subsequently featured more power, bigger wheel arches and the classic duck-tail spoiler. It was so good looking that Porsche has used a few of the RS Carrera’s design features in a modern special edition model.

One year later came the 911 Turbo – perhaps the most praised variant of the range. The Turbo provided 911 enthusiasts with the power boost they sought after. The Turbo featured a 3.0-litre, 256bhp engine and a tricky but rewarding chassis. The Turbo is still with us today, although it has to battle it out with the GT2 for bragging rights of being the fastest 911. Its looks, power and composure on the road meant that consumers could finally utilise the 911’s amazing grip and performance to full effect.

The 1990s saw the end of the era of air-cooled 911s. The 993 variant was the final hurrah and was produced from 1993 until 1998. It featured the smooth lines and body shape that modern 911s take inspiration from and helped the 911 keep relevant and successful in an Italian dominated sports car market. It’s hard to keep a car that has been on the market for decades relevant, and Porsche really has done an amazing job of ensuring that the 911 stays with us for the foreseeable future.

Fast forward a little bit and Porsche produced the 996 GT3. A racing car lightly disguised as a road car, it became a cult-hit, and helped the trend of track days continue its rise during the early part of last decade. The final version of the GT3 produced 381bhp and boasted proper racing ideologies, such as lightweight materials, no rear seats, a roll-cage, an aggressive suspension set-up and a high revving performance engine.

We are now left with the 997 variant of the 911. The modern day Stuttgart bruiser is as praised now as it ever has been. Porsche has tweaked and perfected its design until we are left with one of the best driving experiences money can buy. Models like the 911 GT2 continues Porsche’s racing heritage and provides customers with a biblically fast, thrill induced exhilaration that few cars can replicate.

What’s the future for the Porsche 911? More of the same, we would guess. The company’s swansong has yet to hit its peak notes, and let’s be honest; the world just wouldn’t be the same without the charismatic looks, unique handling and German engineering that the Porsche 911 provides.

While Mueller made no promises of Porsche’s participation in Formula 1, he did say either Porsche or Audi would compete in Le Mans, and the other would race in Formula 1. Audi’s motorsport boss has said in the past that Audi participating in Formula 1 is unlikely, so Mueller’s comments have racing fans salivating for a Porsche Formula 1 re-appearance. We take a brief look back at Porsche’s illustrious history in motorsport and ask whether Porsche can repeat its past successes if it does return.

It has been over 40 years since Porsche has competed in Formula 1 as a full manufacturer, though it has supplied engines for races two times since then. Porsche won a championship race in Rouen in 1962, and then a couple years later, decided to end its participation in Formula 1, citing expenses as the reason for its withdrawal. The results were mixed in the two times Porsche supplied engines following its early 1960s’ withdrawal as a full manufacturer. The first deal in the 1980s brought about 25 race wins with Porsche motors and a number of championships, while the second return in the early 90s ended with the team replacing the engine with a Ford one.

While Porsche has been absent from Formula 1 for some decades now, Porsche has continued its participation in a number of sports car series, such as the Le Mans Series, the American Le Mans Series and Grand-Am.

Porsche’s pedigree in Le Mans racing has been indisputable ever since Hans Herrmann and Dick Attwood achieved the manufacturer’s first overall win in a 4.5-litre 917k in 1970. Porsche is, perhaps, more closely associated with Le Mans than with any other motorsport. This is unsurprising given the 16 overall wins Porsche has secured (of which 7 were won consecutively between 1981 and 1987).

The question remains whether Porsche’s prolific success in Le Mans racing will translate to championships in Formula 1 should the manufacturer make a return as expected. On the one hand, Le Mans cars require a greater focus on reliability and endurance than on speed, unlike Formula 1 cars; however, on the other hand, the remarkable success of the Red Bull racing team in Formula 1 this year suggests that incumbent giants such as McLaren and Ferrari are more vulnerable to challenges than they once were.

Porsche is still a fabled name in European and worldwide auto racing, and while a number of eager auto-racing fans wait to hear whether Porsche will definitely be rejoining Formula 1, perhaps people can get their fill racing around a track in a rented Porsche of their own. Grab some friends and enjoy what is one of many great 50th birthday ideas for car lovers – definitely no spa day.

Formula One has never had a larger audience worldwide, with more than 500 million people tuning each year making it the third biggest sporting event behind the WorldCup and the Olympics. This has helped make global mega stars of drivers such asLewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso. It’s also likely that we wouldn’t be being treated to the sight of Nigel Mansell in Money Super Market car insurance advertstoday if it wasn’t for the appeal F1 has to car enthusiasts around the world.

Porsche have tried to capitalise on F1’s global appeal on a number of occasions in the past. In 1961 they entered F1 with their own team, resulting in a single victory at the French grand prix of 1962 with Dan Gurney. The company then withdrew due to the increasing costs of F1 and only returned again twenty years laterin 1983 teaming up with the Mclaren team. Between 1984 and 1987 the Mclaren/Porsche partnership was amazingly successful, producing 25 grand prix victories,three drivers’ championships and two constructor’s championships with Alain Prostand Niki Lauda at the wheel. However, the performance of the Williams Honda’s in1987 persuaded Mclaren to switch allegiance and start a new partnership with Hondafor 1988 resulting in Porsche once again withdrawing from the sport.

There was a brief return with the Footwork team in 1991, but this turned out to be a disaster due toa lack of funding. In the years that followed, the amount spent by car manufacturers inthe sport rocketed. It is alleged that Toyota spent over $400 million per year duringtheir eight season stint in F1, making the sport an unrealistic proposition for themajority of car manufacturers.

The new formula

The loss of Toyota, BMW and Honda on the back of the credit crunch helped Formula One Management realise that costs had to come down. This resultedin the establishment of a resource restriction agreement during the 2009 season,which aimed to limit the spending of teams in order to ensure the survival of thesmaller outfits and to make the sport a more realistic prospect for a greater numberof companies. This agreement has recently been extended until the end of 2012 bymutual agreement of the teams.Costs were not the only problem the sport had, with BMW admitting that a bigpart of the reason for their withdrawal was because involvement in F1 was not helpingthem to develop technologies which could be used on road cars.

The sports governingbody the FIA responded to this banning in race refuelling this season, which placesgreater importance on fuel efficiency by making the drivers start the race with enoughfuel to finish it. The hope is that this will encourage participants to find new ways ofreducing fuel consumption, which could eventually be used on road cars.

For 2011,the FIA has reintroduced KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems) which takes heatenergy from the brakes and stores it in lithium batteries. This energy can then be usedat any point by the driver to give a sudden boost in engine power. It is hoped that thiswill help car manufacturers to develop their abilities to harness energy and increaselithium battery efficiency which could be used on hybrid road cars. Ferrari has alreadyused KERS system on its 599 hybrid sports car model, while Porsche itself has used
the Williams teams KERS device on its GT sports car. The two big issues whichdrove so many car manufacturers from the sport have therefore been addressed.

Williams Porsche in 2013?

Porsche has two options. It can either enter F1 using its own team as it did in the1960s or partner with an existing team like it did in the 1980s. Mueller has made it clear that he has no desire to start a team from scratch due to the time and resourceswhich would be required to make it competitive. This therefore leaves partnering anexisting team as the only option.There are currently four teams with an uncertain future in the sport. It isbelieved that Hispania and Toro Rosso have both been placed on the market by theirowners, but these are unlikely to be attractive propositions to Porsche due to the factthat their facilities are at a bare minimum compared to the front running teams.

This leaves Sauber and Williams. Both teams have won races and have great facilities onthe back of previous relationships with BMW, and therefore either would be a goodoption. However, out of the two, Williams has the most uncertain future with Sauberhaving recently become involved with Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim. Williams onthe other hand has lost a number of key sponsors lately and is in desperate need offunding. The team has proven in the past that it knows how to win and surely financialinvestment from Porsche would be the missing piece of the puzzle which would allowWilliams to return to winning ways. Williams and Porsche collaborated recently withWilliams supplying KERS systems for Porsche’s GT programme. The new Williamsco-owner, Austrian businessman and former racing driver Toto Wolff, also has apreviously relationship with Porsche having raced for them in sports cars.

A Williams-Porsche team could be a winning combination in 2013 that would surely have a great chance of emulating the success of the Mclaren Porsche partnership in the 1980s.

So, what do you think? Excited much?

Big thank you to Mark Marin over @ Money Super Market for this fantastic contribution

If you've not seen the Money Super Market advert then you can take a look here )

To celebrate the anniversary of Porsche entering the United States, a special exhibit at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart will run from 12 October 2010 to 9 January 2011. Prototypes of the Porsche 356 Speedster, 356 America Roadster and 550 Spyder will be on display. The Porsche Museum has also published the book Porsche in America to celebrate the milestone, which includes previously unpublished photos from the Porsche archive.

The North American market is one of Porsche’s most important, as well as one of its ‘traditional’, markets. As a further example of the popularity and respect for Porsche in the US, Car and Driver magazine recently named the Porsche Boxster Spyder the “best-handling car in America”. Recently, the Middle East and China have also begun flourishing as Porsche markets.

The top-selling Porsches in America in 2009 were:

Despite Porsche’s success in the US, sitting behind the wheel of one is still a fantasy for many fast-driving enthusiasts. Still, there are many options to get a friend or family member driving a flashy sports car even if you can’t afford to actually buy them one. Driving days are great Christmas gift ideas or birthday presents, and can get the sports-car lover in your life the adrenaline rush they’re seeking safely.

With Christmas not too far away (according to the wife) the mind starts to think of the usual round of aftershave, clothes or a nice coffee table book on Le Mans Classics. However, when Benja from Pocket Classic got in touch my heart started to boom!

These half-scale classic cars with petrol or electric engines, can do up to 46mph, and most importantly will fit adults as well...oh yes!

Pocket Classics (www.pocketclassics.co.uk) have this week launched a range of miniature classic cars for kids and adults alike. The cars are half-size tributes to such classics as the Porsche 356 Speedster, the Jaguar E-Type, the Mercedes 300SL, the Willys Jeep and the Bugatti Type-35.

Each car is lovingly handmade, taking in excess of 450 hours to craft. Powered by 110cc petrol or electric motors, the cars are capable of speeds up to 46mph.
There are just 5 cars available for sale before the end of 2010, after which build slots are available for 2011. Cars can be built to a buyer’s exact specification with any combination of interior and exterior colour.

Designed for kids but they will fit adults. Now, this weekends plan is to persuade the wife that my 15month old son is old enough for one! Will he get a shot? Maybe one day...

Time to check out the Spec!

The legendary timeless classic in miniature.
Composite chassis and body shell. Working lights, indicators & horn.
The largest cockpit of our cars, suitable for ages 6 up to medium adults.
Fixed pedals with an adjustable seat.
Petrol version

• 110cc 4 stroke air-cooled engine
• Top speed 46mph (can be limited)
• Semi-automatic gearbox: 3 speed forward and reverse
• Twin rear hydraulic disc brakes
• Electric start
• No suspension

Electric version

• Top speed 14mph
• Forward and reverse
• Rear drum brakes
• Full independent suspension
• Drive time per charge approx.: 1hr 40mins
• Recharge time: 1 hour

Check out their site, you will want one!

Time to Watch Some Action!

Website: www.pocketclassics.co.uk
Video of the cars in action: http://tinyurl.com/3a9zhd3
Full Brochure: http://tinyurl.com/333mgtt
A demonstrator (Petrol Speedster) is available for test drives / road tests / reviews.