Articles

20 October 2022 The car designer Ettore Bugatti came from a family of artists and sculptors. He modelled engine components, including crankshafts, in wood to assess them in aesthetic terms before committing them to production. Apparently, the engine of his Type 35 racing car is almost the perfect definition of a system of mechanics based […]

20 October 2022 Without the Aston Martin DB3S, Aston Martin’s final victory at Le Mans in 1959 with the DBR1 would not have happened. The Aston Martin DB3S is a sports racing car that Aston Martin built. Following the failure of the heavy and uncompetitive Aston Martin DB3 designed by Eberan Eberhorst. Introduced in 1953,

20 October 2022 There is a theory that the state of car design is not only a means of precisely calibrating the health of its culture but mirrors the obsessions of the age. In the 1930s, quality and reliability were paramount characteristics of motor cars, and coach-built cars imitated the grand hotels and country houses,

If you are a motorsport fan, you will be acutely aware of your senses. Not just what you see, but the smell and the sound; add to these the addictive senses of danger, trepidation, excitement, adrenaline and pride. Combining these senses makes the motor car one of our modern life’s most important sensory experiences. In

20 October 2022 ❖ What F1 drivers are confirmed for 2023? All teams, bar Williams and Haas, have confirmed their 2023 F1 driver line-ups. Most teams have stayed the same. However, Oscar Piastri has replaced Daniel Ricciardo at McLaren. Nicholas Latifi has been axed from Williams, Pierre Gasly has joined Alpine, Fernando Alonso has moved

13 October 2022 ❖ Max Verstappen won’t be stripped of his 2021 world title because the budget violation wasn’t significant. Only £5.7 million over the permitted limit. ❖ Max Verstappen will have to watch out for the ‘real Lewis Hamilton’ in 2023, with the Brit desperate to return to the top of F1. ❖ Lewis

13 October 2022 France has a reputation for being strict regarding speeding infringements. Speeding fines in France. If stopped by police, you’ll receive an immediate penalty. Officers could also confiscate your licence, be banned from driving, or arrest you. To ease the burden on the over-stretched Gendarmerie, France has appointed private speed camera cars, and

13 October 2022 In 1963, Ford was keen to partner with Ferrari and provide much-needed funding. However, their demands regarding control were unacceptable to Enzo. He would abdicate control over the road cars but not his beloved racing division. Enzo walked away, Ford declared war, with Le Mans the battleground. In 1966, John Surtees was

13 October 2022 With Ferrari returning to top-tier FIA World Endurance Championship racing next year with the soon-to-be-announced (October 30, I think!) Ferrari Hypercar debut, it will be intriguing to see what, if any, impact on the design of the 16 new vehicles to be launched in 2026. The new vehicle hasn’t been officially given

13 October 2022 Whilst I am not questioning the need for ‘something to be done regarding the environment, the motor car seems to be the centre of attention since most of us have one and probably enjoy the freedom it provides us. The solution to the problem may not be as simple as ‘going electric.’