Articles by Mark Hinchliffe

A Suncorp Insurance study has found young women to be the worst offenders when it comes to driving tired.  Fatigued young female drivers are the least likely to stop for a break (41 per cent) followed by young male drivers (39 per cent). Motorists with less than 10 years' driving experience are also unwilling to take a break when tired (36 per cent).  Suncorp spokesman Mike Sopinski said the findings were surprising. "Previously young males were the worst offenders and I'd suggest changing lifestyle factors may have had an influence on this," he said. Nineteen-year-old Emma Betts is a busy teenager, juggling university studies, part-time nanny work, duties as the state director of Oaktree international aid and development organisation and a hectic teenage social life. "I'm pretty much tired all the time," she said.  "I wouldn't even think of driving if I've had a drink but I don't really think about driving tired. But it's only short journeys from the city to home. Night time meetings are sometimes a drag getting home." Sopinski pointed out that fatigue is the only one of the Fatal Four (speeding, not wearing a seat belt, fatigue and driving under the influence) that police cannot immediately identify and test. "This may be a contributing factor in motorists making the decision to drive tired," he said.  The national study of 2818 Australians found 27 per cent of tired drivers will not stop for a break, 24 per cent have momentarily fallen asleep at the wheel and 6 per cent say tiredness contributed to a crash in which they were involved. It also found 15 per cent are willing to drive for four hours without a break and 7 per cent will drive even longer without stopping.  The message about fatigue driving is particularly important in the run-up to the Easter break, he said. "With an extraordinarily long Easter break this year, we expect many driver to hit the road for the holiday weekend," Sopinski said.  "With more traffic on the roads than usual, it's important to take extra care on the roads." Fatigue is a cause of up to 14 per cent of deaths on Australian roads annually.Ten tips for avoiding fatigue 1 Avoid beginning a trip at the end of a day's work2 Ensure you have adequate sleep and are well-rested the night before you set out3 Don't drive at times when you would normally be asleep e.g. early hours of the morning4 Schedule regular rest breaks outside the vehicle - 10-15 minutes rest every two hours5 Share the driving where possible6 Never drink alcohol (not even small quantities) before or during long trips7 Eat proper and well-balanced meals preferably at your normal meal times8 Try to maintain a cool temperature inside the vehicle9 Don't drive while taking medication that may affect your driving - check labels on medicine 10 Allow extra time and take a powernap if tiredTen signs of fatigue 1 Constant yawning2 Drifting in your lane of traffic3 Sore or heavy eyes4 Trouble keeping your head up5 Delayed reactions6 Loss of attention, daydreaming or 'zoning out'7 Difficulty remembering the last few kilometres8 Variations in driving speed9 Mood swings such as irritability or boredom 10 Blurry vision or 'seeing things' e.g. objects or shadows on the roadside appear distorted

1. Set your seat for the correct driving position. This should be with the steering wheel close enough so your arm held straight will touch the top of the steering wheel with your wrist and when holding the wheel at 9 and 3 o'clock, you arms are comfortably bent. 2. Tilt your head as far as you can comfortably go to the right and adjust the right wing mirror so you can only just see the rear of your car. 3. Tilt to the left and do the left mirror the same way. 4. Adjust your windscreen mirror so it is centred on the rear window. 5. Test for blind spots by getting a friend to walk around the rear of the car from one side to the other and watch them move from mirror to mirror without a blind spot.

The M5 concept to debut at the Shanghai motor show later this month will have a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engine, from other M models following the shift in most of its models from twin-scroll turbos to two separate turbos.It will be the first time the M5 has not had a naturally aspirated engine since its launch in 1984. However, the fifth generation of the iconic four-door powerhouse will have substantially more power and torque. The previous model was a five-litre V10 with 373kW of power and 520Nm of torque, while the coming model has 417kW and 691Nm.That more than matches its main sedan rival the Mecrcedes-Benz E63 AMG 8-cylinder engine with 386kW and 630Nm. While no official acceleration figures have been released, it is believed it will be 0.2 seconds faster to 100km/h than the V10 M5, which at about 4.5 seconds would equal the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG.Despite all this raw power, BMW claims fuel economy increase of 25 per cent thanks to "EfficientDynamics" features such as brake-energy recuperation, an alternator that disengages under acceleration and an automatic stop/start function.The new engine is also set to appear in the second-generation M6 coupe and convertible, and possibly a four-door GranCoupe to rival the new Mercedes CLS63 AMG. BMW Group Australia spokesman Piers Scott says the M5 will arrive here early next year. He says the V8 twin-turbo is part of a "general shift towards turbo-charged engines in the BMW line-up"."BMW TwinPower Turbo technology means superb power delivery from fewer cylinders," he says. "This particular V8 is a characteristically high-revving engine typical of BMW M and like the V10, has a sound that is more than capable of making the hairs on your neck stand on end."Another significant change to the new M5 is the introduction of a dual-clutch gearbox replacing the old model's sequential manual transmission. Scott says the transmission will be well received. "Our M customers expect both performance and flexibility from a transmission," he says. "This double-clutch transmission ensures fast, seamless gear-changes to compliment the enormous power of the engine yet can offer a smooth and subtle driving experience for the daily commute."

Gone is the single-box profile for a more conventional hatchback style and gone is the unique sandwich platform for a more conventional transverse front-wheel drive layout.But you couldn’t call the A-Class concept conventional with its lowered aerodynamic styling that Benz says is inspired by wind and waves, and aviation engineering.Mercedes-Benz Australia spokesman Jerry Stamoulis says the A-Class concept represents the company’s design directions. “The A-Class is probably one of the first cars that shows where our styling is going,” he says. “It’s a car we’re very excited about.”Which means Australia will re-introduce the mini MPV after dropping it more than a year ago from their range. “We made the decision to stop selling A-class and reposition B class and now we are selling more B-Class than A and B put together before,” he says.Stamoulis says timing for Australia “is yet to be confirmed”. “It’s no secret that we are wanting younger people to be introduce to our brand,” he says.“Historically our customers are a little bit older – not that there is anything wrong with that – but we want younger people and want them to stay. But this vehicle will not only appeal to the young, but to people who want something sportier.” Stamoulis says there will be a number of variants available with petrol and turbo-diesel engines, but could not confirm a hybrid.The A-Class concept will debut concurrently at the New York and Shanghai motor shows this month. It features a first in the compact class – radar-based collision warning system with adaptive brake assist to lower the risk of rear-end collisions.Inside is a cockpit dashboard the shape of an aircraft wing. Other jet-inspired features are the air vents, instrument cluster, centre console and gearshift lever. Although the concept is a four-seater, the production version is expected to accommodate five people.Mercedes will debut the new B-Class production car in September at the Frankfurt motor show.Stamoulis says we can expect to see it ere in the first quarter of next year. “I’m confident the new B-Class will do extremely well here,” he says.

THIS is a review of a luxury ambulance ... or maybe it should be titled how I went from rider number 7 to patient number 6040789 to 1831km in an RX450h.It's a long story, but the summary is this: I crashed on a bike launch in Victoria, ended up in a Melbourne hospital and couldn't fly home because of a lung puncture. So my wife flew down to drive me 1831km home to Brisbane.My boss offered me a Lexus RX450h which was ending its time at Carsguide on a long-term test. Lexus kindly obliged to the extra kilometres.Unless it had air suspension, it couldn't be a better "ambulance" for the long haul.So now there is one more use for this Toorak Tractor other than conveying the cherished ones to private school, rugby practice or ballet lessons.VALUEValue? Invaluable to me with painful chest and back injuries! The hybrid Lexus comes in three models, Prestige ($89,788), Sports ($96,787) and Sports Luxury ($108,900) which we drove.The top model comes with everything so the only option is 19-inch tyres. That's still about $10,000 more than the petrol model, but it has the best car audio system you can get - Mark Levinson audio system valued at $3000.There is only one other hybrid luxury SUV to compare it with and that's the Porsche Cayenne Hybrid S at $160,800. However, most buyers would also consider diesels such as the Audi Q7 ($88,614- $254,814), BMW X5 ($92,100-$113,300) and Mercedes-Benz ML ($85,780-$92,425).TECHNOLOGYIt's a hybrid, so it's powered by a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine with an electric motor and a host of environmental and fuel-saving technologies.That alone is plenty of technology, but it also features adaptive cruise control, head-up display, satellite navigation, dusk sensing xenon headlamps with cornering function, rain-sensing wipers, front and rear parking sensors, six-CD/DVD tuner, Bluetooth, self-folding electric wing mirrors with puddle lamps, power windows, electrically adjustable seats and steering column with three memory settings, heated and ventilated front leather seats and a mouse-style controller for the infotainment system.Our test model was more than a year old so it didn't have the USB connectivity it now comes with.SAFETYPart of the technology overload are the safety systems that put my injured frame at ease. It comes with several safety systems to prevent a crash and minimize damage and injuries in a crash: pre-collision system, vehicle dynamic integrated management, and intelligent adaptive front lighting system. There are also 10 airbags, a reversing camera and a host of electronic aids with acronyms such as ABS, EBA, EBD and ESC that keep it on track.DESIGNI've always liked the slightly curvy, feminine lines of the RX, Q7 and Cayenne. To me they are a refreshing change from the chunky, macho X5 and ML. The RX450h has styling features to differentiate it from the RX350 petrol models including a turbofan-style grille, blue-trimmed Lexus hybrid logos, blue tinted tail lamps and AFS LED headlamps.Step inside and you can't help notice the illuminated blue "Lexus" on the doorstep. The rest of the cabin is similar except for the added features. Everything is practical, tasteful and comfortable.DRIVINGTo me the most important features were the comfortable and quiet cabin, and the long-travel suspension with double wishbone rear for a nice, plush ride. And on the Hume Highway's concrete joins, the bumpy roads north of Albury and Newcastle, and the road works between Coffs Harbour and Byron Bay, it was a blessing. However, to most buyers the most important thing is the fuel economy from the hybrid powerplant.Hybrids are really most frugal when they are in city stop-start traffic where the petrol engine is used minimally. On the highway, the electric motor is hardly ever deployed. Lexus quotes highway fuel consumption figures of 6.1 litres per 100km. With very little city or suburban driving, we used a total of 148.3 litres which is an average of 8.1L/100km.It's difficult to write a road test of a car I hardly drove, but my wife's comments are pertinent.She said it drives "like a car". She also liked the head-up display which shows speed and satnav directions on the windscreen in front of the driver, but she said her Polaroid sunglasses negated the images. She liked the adaptive cruise control, but in heavy rain they stopped and the screen said "cruise control not available". She didn't like the wood and leather steering wheel. She said the wood became hot and sticky in the sun and slippery when cold. She also found the rain-sensitive windscreen wipers unpredictable.I like the convenience of the 12V power outlet, the easy-to-use mouse-style controller for the infotainment system and the neat storage under the centre console. When I finally got to drive the Lexus for short distances under doctor's orders, I found the driving position easily adjusted to suit. I also like the way the seat and steering wheels move away when you want to get out of the car. With its hip-high seats, it is also easy to get in and out without having to squat or pull yourself up - great in my condition.LEXUS RX450hPrice: $108,900Warranty: 4 years/100,000kmResale: 90%Servicing interval: 15,000kmEconomy: 6.4 l/100km; 150g/km CO2Safety equipment: 10 airbags, ABS, EBD, stability controlCrash rating: 5 starsEngine: 220kW/317Nm 3.5-litre V6 petrol and electric motorTransmission: Continuously variableBody: 5-door, 5 seats Dimensions: 4770mm (L); 1885mm (W); 1720mm (H); 2740mm (WB)Weight: 2205kgTyres: 235/55 R19Spare: Full-size spare an option

The Prius is synonymous with eco-conscious motoring, but its maker Toyota comes in second on the list of Europe's cleanest carmaker. The cleanest brand in 2010 was, again, Fiat with 123.1g/km. down from 127.8g/km. All of Europe's top 20 brands improved their emissions last year. Outside the top 20 brands, Ferrari was again the most improved brand with relatively high average CO2 emissions of 326.8g/km, 46.3 g/km lower than in 2009. EU regulations have set a target for all new cars in Europe of 130g/km by 2015. Volvo reduced its emissions more than any other European manufacturer in the past year, however the Swedish brand is still a lowly 19th in the European emissions rankings. Its fuel-economic DRIVe models have pushed average CO2 emissions down to 157.5g/km in 2010 from 171.2g/km in 2009. In Australia, DRIVe technology is available only in the C30 model, says Volvo Car Australia spokeswoman Jaedene Hudson. "Currently, there are no plans to expand the range beyond that," she says. "We launched the C30 here as an experiment and we are watching how it is performing to see if there is opportunity to bring in other DRIVe models down the track.'' DRIVe is Volvo's name for a combination of technologies such as low rolling resistance tyres, regenerative battery charging, engine management systems, low friction oils, aerodynamics and stop-start technology. EU regulations have set a target for all new cars in Europe of 130g/km by 2015.

The RACQ and Motor Trades Association of Queensland have warned interstate buyers to be wary of any second-hand vehicle that appears a bargain. RACQ spokesman Steve Spalding said at least one purchaser in Tasmania unknowingly bought a flood-affected vehicle. The new owner found out when he unsuccessfully tried to get it registered. MTAQ spokesman Richard Payne said the problem would be solved if all states and territories could agree on a single definition for a flood-damaged vehicle. "Queensland is about to tighten their definition, but we want them to go further like NSW," he said. NSW has changed its Statutory Write Off Laws so all written-off light vehicles will become non-repairable write-offs and not able to be registered anywhere in Australia. "Queensland's current definition of flood damage is submersed for 48 hours. Who determines that?" said Payne. "With our recent spate of flash flooding, you could have a vehicle that went under but wasn't under for 48 hours so it doesn't have to be declared as a stat write-off." Payne sad he had heard reports from other state industry body representatives that Queensland flood-damaged vehicles had been offered for sale. "The VACC for example said they felt that some might have come south, but I can't put an exact figure on it," he said. "A lot of flood vehicles have been written off, but a lot haven't been and they are the concern. There are about 6000 vehicles flood affected in Queensland, but I'm not sure how many have been written off. "So it could be in excess of a thousand that are being put through the auctions spread out over a period so as not to flood the market if you'll excuse the pun. Our concern is that these vehicles are back yard repairs and are of dubious quality and have had no checks before they go back on the road." Payne said their members were "gun shy" of buying cars for fear of buying a flood-damaged vehicle. "So if they can't find a market here, guess where do they go?" he said. "Vehicles don't have any boundaries and the wholesalers will go anywhere to find a market so there is the potential for them to be shipped around a bit." Spalding said consumers faced two risks with buying flood-damaged vehicles. "The first is if the seller doesn't declare the car a write-off, and secondly a purchaser not taking the steps to protect themselves by making enquiries with the final seller," he said. "As always it is in the buyer's interest to protect themselves by making their own necessary checks regardless of what legal onus is on the seller to disclose the car's flood or write-off status."

The various automobile clubs, tyre companies and car manufacturers have responded by trotting out the usual economy tips such as drive slower and smoother, correctly inflate tyres and make fewer trips. But we've heard it all before. So, may we present these five radical ideas to reducing your fuel expense burden.

SAFETY Easter driving trips often mean flat tyres.  The Easy Lift Wheel Supporter ($79.99) from Repco makes it a breeze, especially with heavy 4WD tyres up to 50kg. It lifts the wheel to and from the wheel hub so you can easily rotate the wheel to match holes and wheel studs.  ARB also makes quick tubeless radial and crossply tyre repairs easy with a Speedy Seal kit ($59.95) that includes a gauge, spring steel insertion needle with lubricant, steel reamer, 30 repair cords and two Allen keys. If you are heading off road, ARB also has a premium recovery kit ($525) that will give you some peace of mind.  It includes a snatch block 9000, 4500kg winch extension strap, 8000kg snatch strap, recovery damper, tree trunk protector, 2 x bow shackles and gloves, and comes in a cotton canvas bag. To make deflation quick for off-road driving, get ARB's E-Z Tyre Deflator kit ($58) with bronze Bourdon Tube gauge ($29, if bought separately). GETTING THERE VMS has released a Touring 600 GPS with road and off-road maps, so no matter where you go this Easter, you are covered.  It features a large 15cm anti-glare screen which is visible in the brightest sunlight. The unit is also ultra-slim and can be taken out of the car and used for trekking, cycling or other adventures off the beaten track.  Street Navigation is powered by Where IS maps and the off-road GPS is preloaded with iTOPO Australian 4WD maps and Gregory's Outback Touring maps. COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE Long trips are best with a nice cold drink on hand.  ARB has a cooler bag ($39.95) with a tough exterior, external pockets and strong carry straps. It comes with an ARB bottle opener/cork screw. If you want something a bit more powerful, but still compact, the 235mm Waeco CDF-11 ($499) is the smallest compressor driven fridge/freezer available.  It will cool to 50C below ambient temperature, even keeping ice cream frozen. The 10.5-litre fridge will hold an upright 1.25-litre bottle, operates on 12/24V DC and features battery protection. It also features cup holders and a carry strap. ENTERTAINING THE TROOPS Avoid the fights over what music or video you play in the car and keep the rear seat passengers entertained for hours with the latest Pioneer infotainment system.  The AVIC-F20BT ($2999) has a dual-zone system that allows parents to play their hits of the '70s up front while the kids listen to their own music or watch a DVD in the rear. The new Pioneer flagship multimedia unit also has GPS navigation, mobile phone control, multiple music connectivity and the option of a reverse camera.  All functions can be controlled on a colour touchscreen. It has text-to-voice GPS guidance, a choice between 2D or 3D detailed mapping, SUNA live traffic management, safety camera alerts and Parrot Bluetooth.  It will connect and playback music and/or video from a CD, DVD, iPod/iPhone, USB or SD card and Pioneer has introduced MusicSphere software to manage your iTunes library.

I was one of six Australian motoring journalists to compete last week in a promotional Mazda MX-5 race on a frozen Swedish lake.  We approached the event cautiously as most of us had never driven on snow, let alone ice. But having now represented our country so successfully, all I can say is bring on the ice age so we can all tear around in rear-wheel-drive open-top roadsters. THE IDEA Mazda Europe boss Jeffrey Guyton says the event was a follow-up to last year's invitational tarmac race in Venice to celebrate the MX-5's 20th anniversary. "We were hoping for more teams this year and really happy to see Australia participate," he says.  "The idea is to have fun and I can see from the smiles that it has been successful." He wouldn't say how much the exercise cost, however it must have been an expensive promotional event.  Mazda invited 120 drivers from 25 European countries plus Australia to drive 20 race-prepared cars on a specially constructed ice course on Lake Kallsjon in northern Sweden.  Over the two days the drivers covered 11,000km at 550km per car over 157 driving hours. Before heading over to Sweden to represent Australia's motoring media, I asked V8 Supercar legend Craig Lowndes for some advice, but he just laughed.  "You've got to be kidding; a short-wheelbased, rear-wheel-drive open-top car on ice? Good luck." Former World Rally Championship driver Chris Atkinson was a little more constructive with his tips to another of our team. He said racing on ice was like driving on gravel. He suggested we keep the wheels spinning so the 300 nipple-shaped metal studs on the tyres break through the slippery ice surface. Race director Pontus Sandell advised: "You won't win this race in one lap or even one race.  The whole two days of practice, qualifying and racing will be important."THE COURSE The 4.9km track was graded into 60cm-thick ice on the artificial lake surface in a tight slalom of 23 left corners and 20 rights.  It varied from 10-15m wide with slushy snow banks on either side to beach cars that slid wide. Temperatures on the two days ranged from a balmy -10C to a bracing -30C with conditions changing throughout the day as bright sunshine melted the surface, only to freeze again later in the day.  Like any ski field, the course was carved up during the day. By afternoon, it was bumpier than a stage of the Australasian Safari.THE CAR Despite Lowndes's skepticism and our fears, the rear-wheel-drive MX-5 was hot on the ice.  Sure, it had limited grip, but that was what made it such fun.  Our car was number 21 as there was no number 13. All race cars are stripped for weight.  Gone are the soft top, roll bar, fog lights, insulation, carpet, wheel liners, sound system, airbags, seats, exhaust and suspension springs. It gets a racing body kit, rear wing, diffuser, carbonfibre trim, racing seats, four-point racing harness, roll cage, 320mm racing steering wheel, lap timer and fire extinguisher. One driver joked that if the car is on fire, just drive it deep into a snow bank. In the Aussie car, the centre console had the added weight of a packet of Tim Tams.  The race cars also get a limited-slip differential, racing clutch and brakes, special powertrain control module, a stainless-steel exhaust system that belches out a macho tone and anti-freeze coolant, transmission fluid and oil. Underneath is racing suspension, 16-inch alloy wheels, and, of course, special ice tyres with 300 small metal studs. Surprisingly, the open-top roadster was quite warm with the windows up and the heater belting out hot air into the cockpit bubble. Or maybe it was the nervous energy we put into qualifying and the race that had us pitting in a lather of sweat. Bump and rebound was the only adjustment allowed, apart from tyre pressures. Our race mechanic, Markus Lungstrass - a driver trainer at Germany's Nurburgring - checked the pressures but left the suspension as is.  Later in the day when the bumps became bigger, we were grateful. THE DRIVERS Our team was comprised of six motoring journalists including Big Wheels reporter James Stanford and me representing Carsguide.  Stanford was our quickest driver setting the pole time of 4:41, six seconds better than anyone else in the field. The amateur part-time club rallycross driver went on to set a race lap record of 1:38. The other teams also brought a wealth of talented drivers, including the Russian national ice-racing champion, Sergey Voskresenskiy, while Switzerland had former F1 driver Rene Arnoux. "I've raced on ice before, but never on a big course like this," Arnoux says in his flambouyant Swiss-French accent.  "This is very long and very interesting. The track I race on in France is only 600m." Some countries couldn't muster enough drivers for a full team, so they shared cars with other countries.  The Italians shared our pit bay, but seemed more interested in drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes.  In one pit stop debacle, their car entered the bay and the next driver still had his snow overboots on, and no helmet or gloves. After some cross words from the race manager they could be seen with three drivers prepared with their helmets on in the pits while still trying to smoke. The UK entered two teams and Germany three.Mazda design boss Ikuo Maeda - known as "Speedy" because of his motorsport involvement - drove for one of the German teams. "When I enjoy racing it stimulates emotion and that is important for stylists. They need passion," he says.  "This is the first time for me on the ice, though." THE METHOD As Atkinson says, ice racing is like driving on gravel. And the course was so tight we only used second and third gear.  What is surprising is how much motorsport fun you can have without needing big power. In fact, we find sticking to third gear allowed us to control the torque oversteer much better. We only used second to slow for tight corners, turn in early, chuck it sideways and throttle out in third as straight as possible to avoid wasting momentum on wheel spin.  It's not the most spectacular way through a corner, but it's the fastest.  We only used the brake three times per lap, but sometimes just a touch more to settle the car, rather than slow it. THE STRATEGY While the Russians, Poms and Germans seemed very serious, most teams treated the race with the fun spirit it was intended.That was also our intention before the race. Our only strategy was to make fast pit stops and try not to spin too much. We were more concerned that the "Zoom-Zoom" logo on the car didn't read "Wooz-Wooz" after up-ending the vehicle.  However, when we found our qualifying times among the top of the 120-strong field, we became more serious. At the end of the first day of practice and qualifying we not only captured pole, but seemed to have captured the attention and respect of the European teams. THE RACE Race day dawned at -30C with a beautiful clear blue sky.  Teams arrived looking serious, while we Aussies arrived with board shorts over the top of our race suits.  Despite all the hoop-la from the teams and the AC-DC playing on the PA, ice racing is actually very quiet. Driving on ice allows you to appreciate the macho burp from the exhaust and the crackle on the over-run as you "barp, barp, barp" through the corners, the tail hanging out wide, showering snow in your wake and hopefully over trailing Poms. Stanford leaves everyone in his wake in the rolling start and pretty soon we scythe through the back markers, despite few acknowledging the blue overtaking flag. The race starts as an Ashes duel with the Poms, but ends in a Cold War with Russia with the Aussies victorious.  That gives us the pole for race 2 and we stick to our pit and race strategy. After nearly four hours of racing, it comes down in the last few laps to a close dice with the Russians.  The crowd were on their feet, enjoying the stoush and the Aussies could taste the victory champagne. However, with a bit of panel-swapping and maneuvers that would have attracted the stewards' attention in club or professional racing, the Russians cut off our legitimate passing attempts and we spun in frustration. We may have finished second, but we won the hearts and minds of the European drivers and were the toast of the awards night. THE AFTERMATH"The idea was to have a bit of fun, but who could have written a script like this," Guyton said of the close result.  He said the event was a "significant investment" for the promotion of its hero car which holds the Guinness record for the most sales of a two-seater open-top roadster, having passed the 900,000 mark recently. Maybe we Aussies took things a little too seriously in the end and were disappointed to hear of some cheating that had gone on - false driver changes, double-stinting and speeding through the pits.  At least we can be proud of having played fair.  Plus, there is always next year as the organisers have suggested it becomes an annual event. And who knows, Mazda Australia PR boss Steve Maciver was so chuffed with the result, he'd like to see it staged on bulldust roads in the Outback. Mazda MX-5 ice race results 1 Russia2 Australia, 1:10 seconds3 Belgium, 2:504 Croatia, Czech rep, Slovakia, 6:215 Austria, 1 lap6 Italy, 1 lap7 France, 2 laps8 UK2, 2 laps9 Germany3, 2 laps10 Spain, 2 laps11 Denmark,Norway, 3 laps12 Netherlands, 4 laps13 Finland, Ireland, Romania, Serbia, 4 laps14 Poland, Sweden, 4 laps15 UK 1, 5 laps16 Switzerland, 6 laps17 Germany2, 6 laps18 Germany1, 6 laps19 Portugal, 7 laps20 HungarySlovenia Turkey, 8 lapsMazda MX-5 race carEngine: 1999cc 4-cylinderPower: 118kW @ 7000rpmTorque: 188Nm @5000rpmFuel: 95 RON Tank: 50 litresTransmission: 6-speed manualBrakes: 290mm ventilated discs (front), 280mm solid discs (rear), ABSPerformance: 213km/h (top speed), 7.6 secs to 100km/hEconomy*: 7.6L/100kmCO2: 181g/km Weight: 1150kg (* production model, not the race car)