SASOL RALLY PROMISES THRILLS

The Toyota Dealer Gauteng Rally promises and exciting climax to the 2010 Sasol South African Rally Championship. This eight event series has been finely poised form the start of the season in Natal back in March. As ever, the S2000 rally formula has produced close and often unpredictable results with the fortunes of the top five competitors waxing and waning with the passing of each event as each of these emerged as a championship challenger.

RECORD SALES FOR BMW IN SEPTEMBER

The BMW Group continued its successful course worldwide in September. With 142 950 BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brand automobiles delivered to customers, sales were 16.8% higher than in the same month last year. In the period up to and including September, i.e. to the end of the third quarter, a total of 1 062 216 vehicles were supplied to customers. This represents an increase of 13.1% from the same period last year (939 554).

RENAULT TWINGO GORDINI RS IS HERE

Renault’s racer-in-nappies brigade will no doubt be wetting their Pampers over the announcement of the new Twingo Gordini Renault Sport (RS). The car is based on the Twingo RS but features some highly visible changes in kit, from top to bottom.

MERCEDES-BENZ SIMULATOR SHOWN

Professor Dr. Peter Frankenberg, Baden-Württemberg's Minister of Science, Research and Art, and Dr. Thomas Weber, Member of the Board of Management responsible for Group Research and Head of Development, Mercedes-Benz Cars, ceremoniously opened the new Daimler AG driving simulator in Sindelfingen with a virtual excursion. The first milestone in the expansion of the Mercedes-Benz Technology Centre has therefore been reached.

LOEB SNATCHES 7TH CHAMPIONSHIP

It was the ideal scenario but it had to be made come true. When Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena stopped their Citroën C4 WRC in front of the Haguenau town hall they had just scored their sixtieth victory in the WRC, and bagged their seventh consecutive FIA World Rally Championship title. In addition to a performance, unique in the annals of motor sport, Loeb had made the hearts of over 300 000 spectators who were all rooting for the local lad jump for joy. Dani Sordo and Diego Vallejo’s second place helped the Citroën Total World Rally Team to its sixth Manufacturers’ World Championship title.
 

BAD LUCK FOR DA CUNHA AT KILLARNEY

What had promised to be a rewarding outing on one of his favourite circuits in the seventh round of the Bridgestone Production Car Championship turned out to be a frustrating day at the office for SAM Racing’s Marco da Cunha at Killarney in Cape Town on Saturday.
 

SECOND-BEST FOR GENERAL MOTORS SOUTH AFRICA

Of the NAAMSA reporters General Motors South Africa was ranked second overall with sales of 5 693 units, a 16.2% share of the NAAMSA reporters’ sales.
“There is little doubt that strike action within the motor industry will have inhibited sales of vehicles manufactured locally by the NAAMSA reporters,” says Malcolm Gauld, General Motors South Africa’s Vice President Sales and Marketing.

ONE-TWO FINISH FOR PEUGEOT AT LE MANS CUP

Just three weeks after the opening round at Silverstone, and a month before its visit to Zhuhai, China, Peugeot succeeded in claiming another one-two finish at one of the calendar's most complex races, if only because of the venue's usual problem of traffic. But Peugeot survived the combination of 44 cars on the track and the nine safety car interruptions with flying colours, even though the fight at the sharp end was as close as they come from the word go.

ZIGZAGING SALES CONFUSE MARKET

Vehicle sales in South Africa in September showed an expected, significant decline compared to sales recorded in August, according to the sales figures released today by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of SA (Naamsa). There was a drop of 9.5% in the overall market, which fell to 29 465 units.

CHRYSLER US SALES UP 61 PERCENT

Chrysler Group LLC today reported U.S. sales of 100 077, a 61% increase compared with sales in September 2009 (62 197 units).
September represents the sixth consecutive month of year-over-year sales increases, and the second month this year that Chrysler Group sales exceeded the 100 000-unit threshold. Nearly all Chrysler Group vehicle lines currently in production improved year-over-year sales.
In all, Chrysler Group this year is introducing 16 all-new or significantly- refreshed vehicles representing 75% of its nameplates.

STORY BY CHRYSLER

MINI COUNTRYMAN WRC INDEPTH

As reported in our previous posting, MINI is going back to racing with the MINI Countryman WRC car which they launched at the 2010 Paris International Motor Show. Here is an extract from an interview done with former BMW South Africa MD, Mr Ian Robertson, who is now a Member of the Board of Management, Sales and Marketing BMW Group.

GENNARO, ROBERTSON ON A HIGH

Both Team Ferodo young drivers Gennaro Bonafede and Devin Robertson enjoyed podium overall finishes for the day in their respective categories at the seventh round of the WesBank Super Series in Cape Town on Saturday.
 

NEW FORD FOCUS ST DOES PARIS

Unveiled at the 2010 Paris International Motor Show, the all-new Ford Focus ST promises lift-off without the scares. It is based on the new Focus hatch which also came into focus, excuse the pun, at the show.

"The ST will be the performance flagship of our new Focus range, and we are excited to provide our enthusiast customers with an early preview in Paris," said Gunnar Herrmann, Ford Motor Company's Global C-car Vehicle Line Director.