Motorsports

It's likely to have a smoother nose with a boost to the cabin, perhaps picking up some directions from the recent revisions to the 2014 Panamera.

Following the Red Bull Racing Australia split that rocked V8s this week, we choose the top 10 “bust ups” and “dust ups” in the colourful sport.1. PETER BROCK v HOLDENThink Holden and you think Brock. He was the ultimate Red warrior and the man responsible for selling more Commodores than anyone. But back in 1987, “Peter perfect” was a General Motors' outcast.He was dumped for refusing to dump a snake oil device known as the “energy polariser”. Brock thought he was bigger than the company and ended up, in first, a BMW and then…gasp, a Ford. Plenty of blood was spilt and Brock spent two years in a Sierra before getting back into a Holden.2. DICK JOHNSON v CHARLIE SCHWERKOLTFord legend Johnson thought forklift entrepreneur Charlie Schwerkolt was his latest financial saviour. Long-time friends, they became partners and the future looked bright. Then Charlie wanted to sack Dick's driving son Steve, along with other members of his family.The gloves came off and the pair won a championship while not talking. They went through a nasty split and still don't talk. The drama cost Johnson James Courtney and half his staff.3. MARK SKAIFE v HOLDEN RACING TEAMHRT blame former owner Mark Skaife for almost ruining their team and Skaife blames them for almost ruining him. Skaife, the Holden legend, bought the team for $1 when owner Tom Walkinshaw hit bad times. The story goes Tom wanted it back and ran Skaife into the ground. Skaife and HRT are still far from friends.4. MARK SKAIFE v RUSSELL INGALLThis high profile duo were probably never best of friends and whatever they had was certainly killed off on a fiery day in November 2003 at Eastern Creek. Skaife was never one to take a shunt lightly and he walked from his wrecked car, towards the track, and shook his hands at Ingall. Another hothead, Ingall swerved to hit him.5. CRAIG LOWNDES v HOLDENHe was the next Peter Brock and the wunderkind Holden fans were pinning their hopes on. And then he broke their hearts in 2000 when he dumped them and HRT for Ford. Lowndes became public enemy No.1, but with a smile and a switch back to Holden in 2010, all was forgiven.6. MARCOS AMBROSE and GREG MURPHYThese two top-guns began a bitter rivalry, first with a war of words in a press conference in 2004 and then a famous Bathurst blue in 2005. The pair don't exchange Xmas cards.7. DICK JOHNSON v JOHN BOWEBest of mates, lifelong friends, well… until Bowe did a secret deal to leave Dick in 1998. They do speak but will never have the close bond of yesteryear.8. JAMES COURTNEY v DICK JOHNSON RACINGCourtney famously walked out on DJR after winning a championship in 2010. He had $1 million reasons (that's what HRT paid him a year) to leave, but that certainly did not make the situation right.9. TONY COCHRANE v V8 SUPERCARSThe founder of V8 Supercars quit his post last year. There is more to it with the investment company that bought V8s sharing a frosty relationship with TC before he “quit”.10. SHANE VAN GISBERGEN v STONE BROTHERSDon't expect to see Shane Van Gisbergen in the Erebus garage anytime soon. His former team spent the first half of the year trying to sue him for leaving mid-contract.Greg Murphy and Marcus Ambrose exchange words at Bathurst in 2005. 

Toyota is on its way to answering the cries for more performance from fans of its hugely successful 86 sports coupe, with the unveiling of a prototype of the model’s first factory performance upgrade this week.Simply comprised of larger 18 inch wheels with stickier tyres and uprated dampers on all corners -- and with no name or brand yet assigned to the package -- it truly is a toe in the water tuning effort with no benefit to power or acceleration.  But the kit promises improved grip and cornering stability, and the sharpened proportions of larger diameter wheels within the 86’s wheelarches. VALUEThe upgrade kit is yet to get the official green light for sale, and may still arrive as part of a more comprehensive enhancement package with interior and exterior upgrades across several international markets.However, 86 chief engineer Tetsuya Tada confirms that the wheel/tyre/damper combo has at least passed Toyota’s internal quality evaluation process, with availability now in the hands of the marketing department.Toyota are not prepared to discuss pricing as yet, but Tada-san confirmed plans for the kit to be available to both new and used 86 owners, suggesting it would be fitted at dealer level.We’d expect the wheel/tyre/damper package to be priced on the lighter side of the $7995 Subaru asks for the more aesthetically-focused S pack introduced for the (86 twin) BRZ recently, which counts lowered coil springs, a suspension tower bar and a manual shift-kit as its only mechanical upgrades. Even if the 86 package matched the BRZ S pack’s price, a so-optioned $29,990 86 GT manual would sneak within $40,000, which could make for a bargain-priced track warrior with a full manufacturer’s warranty.DESIGNThe prototype enhancement package specifically includes a set of enlarged 18 by 7.5 inch (up from the GT model’s 16x6.5 and GTS’s 17x7 standard specs) BBS forged alloy wheels with staggered width 215mm front and 225mm rear '86' branded Dunlop Direzza R-spec tyres (up from GT’s 205mm and GTS’ 215mm spec) , plus specifically tuned non-adjustable Sachs dampers on all corners. The 86’s standard  springs, swaybars, and suspension bushes are unchanged, but the new  wheels, tyres, and dampers have all been developed by Tada-san’s team to work in harmony with the existing hardware. ENGINE AND TRANSMISSIONThe enhanced 86’s 2.0 litre boxer petrol four is also unchanged from the existing production model, so produces the same 147kW at 7000rpm, and 205Nm between 6400-6600rpm, with a combination of direct and port injection.The characteristic boxer throb also remains, with a meaty intake and exhaust growl through the much of the rev-range before a 7400rpm redline. The prototype 86 was equipped with the six-speed manual gearbox option, but the chassis upgrades would be equally suited to automatic variants, which make up nearly half of all Australian 86 sales.SAFETYThe existing 86’s five-star ANCAP rating would be unaffected by these enhancements, with the current model’s list of safety features including dual front and side airbags, full length curtain airbags, drivers knee bag, plus anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist, traction and five-mode stability control.DRIVINGDriven back-to back with a standard manual 86 GTS, Tada-san’s subtle chassis enhancements have reigned in a significant degree of the 86’s playful character, with the expected higher grip threshold and the wider rear tyres reducing the 86’s tendency to oversteer.Tail movement is still there if you want, but requires more encouragement to induce, and is far more difficult to maintain throughout the corner. In other words, the grip levels now clearly exceed the driveline’s outputs, unlike the now-renowned balance of the standard car. Despite using standard swaybars front and rear, the Sachs dampers make a noticeable difference to bodyroll, particularly during rapid direction changes, and are well matched to the tyres’ extra grip.Our brief drive was over a closed circuit designed to replicate a number of challenging real-world road conditions and surface irregularities, so there were plenty of chances to highlight any weaknesses in the new setup.Nonetheless, the enhanced 86 impressed at speeds well beyond what you’d legally experience on public roads of similar quality, and there’s no doubt it would knock seconds off a standard car’s lap times if you were counting.  There’s no mistaking the enhanced 86 with a standard model when you’re into the swing of it, but the ride – while sharper than standard – is still nicely compliant over rural road bumps when cruising. This is no bone rattling track special like the original Honda Integra Type R, for example. VERDICTAs a first taste of what Toyota is cooking up to keep buyers keen on the 86 throughout its model life, this prototype tuning package should instil confidence that Toyota will eventually satisfy those who prefer outright performance over playful chuckability.While this setup adds nothing to the 86’s straight-line surge, it would make a demonstrable difference to its performance around a circuit, motorkhana, or tarmac rally. And during the week, it would remain a usable everyday car with the assurance of a full manufacturer’s warranty.

The veteran Formula 1 driver, who is retiring from the sport at the end of the season, was almost one second quicker than Vettel, but just shy of Lewis Hamilton's best time in the cult BBC programme.Webber and Vettel have shared a fractious relationship during their five-year partnership at Red Bull, culminating earlier this year at the Malaysian Grand Prix when the German ignored a blatant team order to deny Webber victory.Asked by Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson whether he would miss Vettel, who he trails by 67 points in this year's championship, after he retires, Webber replied: "Probably not a huge amount, no."I think in a competitive environment there is always a bit of needle and there is a lot of history between us." When pushed on whether he'd ever considered hitting his Red Bull team-mate and the leader of this year's world championship, Webber joked: "My dad always says you shouldn't hit boys, mate."  

It was only a year ago that Porsche was celebrating two million Facebook fans, which it marked by unveiling a special Cayman S decked out with a portrait of each of its fans.Since then, the sports car manufacturer from Stuttgart has gone on to surpass five million fans and to celebrate it asked each of them to help design a unique 911 Carrera 4S.Porsche has now revealed its ‘crowd-sourced’ 911 Carrera 4S and is running a competition that will enable one of its fans the chance to travel to the Silverstone race track in the UK and drive the car. Nine scale models of the car are also available for the runners-up.Later, all Porsche enthusiasts will be experience the car as it will remain at the Porsche Experience Center at Silverstone, though they will have to make their own way to the track.The special 911 is based on a 2013 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S and features a unique exterior color called Aquablaumetallic developed by the Porsche Exclusive department. The car also features 20-inch Carrera S wheels finished in white, an Aerokit package, custom door sills and a dash plaque inscribed with the message “Personally built by 5 Million Porsche Fans.”Porsche isn’t unique in its appreciation of its fans. Aston Martin previously built a special DB9 to mark one million fans and Ferrari released a humorous video when it attained ten million fans.www.motorauthority.com 

BMW’s Mini seems intent on becoming all things to all men and women, continuing to come up with new versions of the iconic British brand. The John Cooper Works high-performance range is now offered in every model: Mini, Clubman, Coupe, Cabriolet, Roadster, Paceman, Countryman and GP.HISTORYJohn Cooper, who gained legend status during the 1950s and 1960s designing Formula One and Indianapolis 500 race cars, began putting a sting in the tail of competition Minis – he designed the first high-performance Mini Cooper for the 1960 Monte Carlo Rally - and perking up the performance of production models. These days, many gentleman of a certain age glaze over at the mention of the Mini Cooper - enough to bring a tear to a glass eye. John Cooper died in 2000, aged 77. Cooper’s son, Mike, has brought the same passion to the company as his father and John Cooper Works continues to pump JCW Minis into a market attracting enthusiasts of high performance vehicles with individuality, versatility and, in this case, an impeccable pedigree. ENGINE AND TRANSMISSIONHeart and soul of the range is a new generation 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine featuring twin-scroll turbo technology, direct fuel injection, variable valve lift and timing, and a reinforced cylinder head and pistons, sodium filled exhaust valves and lightweight crankshaft, all fashioned from the racing-car list of goodies With a maximum output of 155 kW and 260 Nm of torque, (280 Nm with overboost), which increases to 160 kW and 280 Nm (300 Nm with overboost) in the ALL4 all-wheel-drive Mini JCW Countryman and Mini JCW Paceman. Mated with a standard six-speed manual gearbox, an optional six-speed automatic transmission is available for all Mini JCW variants except the GP limited edition model. TECHNOLOGYDepending on the model, a Mini JCW sports suspension, with dynamically tuned dampers and anti-roll bars, comes as standard or as a no-cost option. Stopping is guaranteed with a standard high-performance sports-brake system. A ‘Sport’ button on the centre console allows the driver to change engine response and accompaniment, as well as the power steering effort. In auto models, engaging Sport mode also quickens shift times. DRIVE IMPRESSIONSWe tested the latter models to great effect in cold and damp conditions on several sections of the Targa Tasmania route outside Hobart. A raspy motor note rang out through the narrow, twisty tree-lined avenues courtesy of the standard JCW sports exhaust system, which was cut to popping and crackling on over-run. Smiles all round. Precise speed-sensitive steering enabled the steerers to put the cars in perfect alignment over the fast and testing stages, while the tightly tuned suspension maintained the cars’ handling stability. However, there was a downside, with the Paceman producing a choppy ride over uneven road surfaces. It was similarly the case with the GP on the track, a fact that was highlighted by the media minder for the day, Mike Eady, the BMW driver trainer flown in from New Zealand. A former racer in Europe with much experience testing on the Nordschleife of the Nurburgring where the Mini JCW GP was shaken down, he suggested turning down the damping a notch or two would not have sacrificed performance to the production of a smoother ride. We spent time under the direction of Eady in the Coopers barreling around Baskerville circuit, near Hobart, weaving through cones in a rapid direction-changing exercise and scorching up the straight to come to a stop with heavy braking testing to the full the ABS effectiveness. No brake fade became evident in any of the cars – JCW hatch, Coupe, Roadster or GP - throughout the entire uncompromising workout. Star of this event was undoubtedly the limited edition GP which, with its stripped-back 1160 kg unladen weight and highly modified 1.6 litre turbo engine pumping out peak power of 160 kW and maximum torque of 260 Nm, traction control system with a specific GP mode, as well as a bespoke racing suspension and braking system, is the essence of the John Cooper Works philosophy. Aerodynamics, consisting of under-body panelling to reduce drag and a carbon rear wing to improve down-force over the rear axle, give the Mini JCW GP a strong street presence. The driver and co-driver are securely supported in heated leather Recaro sports seats with contrasting red stitching and a special knee roll for bracing during all-out driving.  The fastest series production car to come from the British marque, only 2000 with a single specification will be produced, with 55 pencilled in for Australia, on test in the ‘Green Hell’ of Nordschleife clocked a very respectable lap time of 8min23sec, 18 seconds faster than its predecessor, the Mini Cooper S with JCW GP kit.VERDICT No doubt for the driving enthusiast with a fancy for the ultimate sporting Mini, the new GP cannot come quick enough. MODEL LINE-UPMini JCW: from $50,400Mini JCW Clubman: from$51,800Mini JCW Coupe: $52,600Mini JCW Roadster: $55,100Mini JCW Cabrio: $58,500Mini JCW Countryman ALL4: $56,800Mini JCW Paceman ALL4: $58,600Mini JCW GPII: $56,900Note: These prices do not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact your local Mini dealer for driveaway prices.Mini John Cooper WorksPrice: from $50,400Engine: 1.6-litre turbo petrol, 155kW/260NmTransmission: 6-speed manual, FWDThirst: 7.0-litres per 100km, CO2 163 g/km

Australian motorsport legend Dick Johnson has revealed he is broke after losing a staggering $9.1 million. A sporting icon who should be living in the lap of luxury following a famous 36-year racing career, the five-time V8 TouringCar champion is living off $300 a week and has not drawn a wage from his renowned race team Dick Johnson Racing (DJR) since 2008.Johnson, 68, has also spoken for the first time about his ailing health. "I lost nearly everything I owned,'' he said. "My house, my factory, my health and my famous cars. Even my dignity. I was conned out of $9.1 million.''Failed business deals forced Johnson to mortgage his $2.1 million property on the Gold Coast in 2008 along with the $1.3 million factory that contains the most successful team in the history of V8 Supercars.The three-time Bathurst winner also lost $4 million in savings and was forced to sell the race cars that helped make him one of the most iconic drivers in Australian history. "They had to go,'' Johnson said. "I was broke and busted and left without a choice."It hurt then and it still hurts now. I'm sure all this drama will eventually kill me. "It might floor you to know I haven't drawn a wage from my business since 2008. Some people think I am a rich racing legend worth a fortune."But my wife and I have been living on less than $1200 a month. That's for food, bills and petrol. Sometimes I have enough to fly my wife to races to watch our son Steve. "My only income comes from the factory space I rent to my team. I have nothing else. I lost it all in a dodgy deal.''Johnson's sad tale began in 2005 when major sponsor Westpoint collapsed, leaving him without a promised $12 million in sponsorship.The man who became a household name in 1980 when he was wiped out by a rock at Bathurst formed two businesses - V8 Telecoms and FirstRock Mortgage Centre. Both companies collapsed in 2007, forcing Johnson to sell his assets to pay out creditors and save his famous race team."I have had many lows in my life, none more so than walking into a hotel to plead with a bunch of knockabouts to take all I had to give to save my team,'' he said. "It was damn right embarrassing and completely terrifying. Thankfully, they accepted my deal and allowed my team to survive.''Johnson said the ordeal has made him an "old man''. "I am now 68 and I look old beyond my years,'' he said. "I am not a healthy man. The reasons stem back to that period of my life. I couldn't sleep, I couldn't eat and I constantly felt sick in the guts. From that day I have constantly battled through pulsating problems that have made me an old man. I was never a big drinker but I turned to the bottle to help me sleep and forget my troubles at night.''The Ford warrior was forced to sack his son, Steven, as a driver this year to make it to the season opening race. Johnson's iconic race team is now on the rebound, with the team securing one of the hottest young drivers in the sport. Things are looking brighter, with several new sponsors ensuring his team's survival. 

Much has been made of the significance of the two-door M3's name change to M4. But both M3 and M4 will live on in the 2014 model year, despite the nomenclatural bifurcation.The real test, of course, will be how the new M4 drives. If it's lighting lap times on fire and stunning stoplight racers, the name will be a technicality.Fortunately, we may not have long to wait now. In an interview with Motor Trend, BMW M Performance Automobiles's managing director Friedrich Nitschke has confirmed both the M3 sedan and M4 coupe will be at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show.So what can we expect next January? The 2014 BMW M4 is expected to focus on performance through lightness, shaving weight from the standard 4-Series wherever possible. Add to that a turbocharged in-line six-cylinder engine cranking out something north of 310kW and you have the start of a good recipe.The same engine is expected in the 2014 M3 sedan, and most of the rest of the performance equipment should be shared between the two, though adjustments to account for tuning differences will be made. Among the other performance-enhancers expected for the M3/M4 duo is an electronically controlled limited-slip rear differential, lower and stiffer suspension, wider wheels and tires, upgraded brakes, and a range of aerodynamic changes to the exterior. For more details, see our 2014 BMW M3 spy shots.www.motorauthority.com  

As if Formula 1 weren't already as much a technological soap opera as a race series, the series' boss, Bernie Ecclestone, is adding some extra drama to the 2013 season, this time with an indictment for bribery in Germany.A German prosecutor filed the indictment over Ecclestone's dealings with banker Gerhard Gribkowsky, including a $44 million payment that the German authorities believe to have been a bribe. The payment was made surrounding the sale of Formula 1 to CVC Capital Partners in 2005 as Ecclestone sought to acquire the shares held by Gribkowsky's bank, BayernLB. Ecclestone's lawyers have said they have received the indictment, but that it only means "they have to reply to the indictment, which they are strenuously doing."This isn't Bernie's first brush with the long arm of the law. This particular situation has been brewing since 2011, when Bernie admitted to making the payment to Gribkowsky. Ecclestone maintained then (and presumably does so now) that the payment wasn't a bribe, but was in fact an extortion payment to Gribkowsky.German prosecutors allege Ecclestone didn't just pay Gribkowsky -- they say the F1 chief also received about $41 million in commissions from the bank in return for the payment, plus an undisclosed payment into a family trust.In 2012, Gribkowsky admitted to taking the money from Ecclestone and was found guilty of tax evasion and bribery, earning an eight-and-a-half-year prison sentence.Ecclestone has also faced a lawsuit in the U.S. over the matter, brought by Bluewaters, which was competing to purchase the BayernLB shares of Formula 1. After the indictment this week, Ecclestone said he has done "nothing illegal."www.motorauthority.com

Nissan Motorsport V8 Supercar driver Rick Kelly will head a team of international drivers to compete in the 2014 Bathurst 12 hour race in February, driving a factory-entered GT-R GT3 racer. The car will be prepared and entered by Nissan’s factory racing arm, Nismo, as part of the Japanese carmaker’s expanding global motorsport activity. This now includes numerous racing categories around the world, including the formation of Nissan Motorsport and its team of Altima racers competing in the 2013 V8 Supercar Championship.Kelly has won the Bathurst 1000 V8 Supercar race twice in the past (2003 and 2004) driving Holden-badged racers, but is yet to compete in the 12 hour endurance race at the circuit. “ I haven’t had the right opportunity. Certainly this one is the right opportunity, and it will be the first time I’ve driven something other than a V8 Supercar in a while.”The confirmation of the Bathurst 12 hour entry coincides with Nissan’s announcement of the Nismo Global Driver Exchange program, which will facilitate the sharing of factory Nissan driver’s among race categories around the world.The program builds on the existing Nissan GT Academy program, which fosters upcoming international driver talent. Aside from Rick Kelly, the Nissan/Nismo Bathurst 12 hour entry will utilise drivers from the exchange program, under the ‘Nismo Athlete Global Team’ banner. The remaining drivers will be finalised in the coming months.The Nissan team is expected to be one of several international entries in the 2014 12 hour event, as it strives to cement its place on the global endurance racing calendar. “In selecting the Bathurst 12 Hour as a key part of our 2014 racing program, Nissan has further cemented Australasia as a critical element of our global motorsport plans,” Nissan's global motorsport boss Darren Cox said.The production-based GT-R Nismo GT3 currently races in Super GT, FIA GT Series, and Blancpain Endurance Series championships around the world, and produces at least 405kW/637Nm from its production-based twin-turbo 3.8 litre V6. Unlike the 1699kg  road car, the racer has been stripped down to match the FIA’s 1300kg minimum weight for the GT3 category.The GTR nameplate has tasted victory at Mt Panorama in the past, famously winning the 1000km race twice in 1991/92 in Group A guise, before being banned from the local championship – a move that laid the foundations for the V8 rear-wheel drive formula used by V8 Supercars today.Privately-entered Nissan GT-Rs have competed in the 12 hour race in recent years in lesser categories, but the Class A Nissan entry will have its sights set on an overall victory. The 2013 event was won by the Erebus Motorsport Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 of  Alex Roloff, Bernd Schneider and Thomas Jaeger, and joined on the podium by a Ferrari 458 GT3 and a Porsche 911 GT3R. The 2014 Bathurst 12 hour will take place on February 9 next year.This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn