GOODWOOD 73rd MEMBERS’ MEETING MARKS 20 YEARS OF THE MCLAREN F1 GTR
5th February 2015
Goodwood will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the 1990s’ most iconic GT racer, the McLaren F1 GTR, with a huge on-track display of the 600bhp machines at the 73rd Members’ Meeting on March 21-22.
High-speed demonstrations at the famous Goodwood Motor Circuit will take place on both days of the event, with 15 examples of the incredible F1 GTR already confirmed and more set to follow in both short and long-tail specification.
The F1 GTR, powered by a 6.1-litre V12 BMW engine, was created using a spare road-car chassis from the Gordon Murray-designed machine after customer Ray Bellm requested a competition version from McLaren boss Ron Dennis.
Unprecedented success followed, with a debut victory at the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1995 plus back-to-back crowns in the BPR Global Endurance Championship, further titles in Britain and Japan, and more international victories for the even faster, long-tail version.
The Harrods-liveried car in which Derek Bell and his son Justin finished third at Le Mans in ’95 will appear at Goodwood, as will long and short-tail versions carrying a variety of different colour schemes, including those from West, Gulf and FINA.
Indy 500 winner Kenny Brack will drive an ex-Parabolica Motorsport ‘long-tail’ machine at Goodwood while Richard Smith’s similar car - in which Brack was narrowly beaten to victory at last year’s Festival of Speed – will also appear.
Other significant cars include Nick Mason’s unraced development machine, which the former Pink Floyd drummer will drive, and the Gulf car in which Bellm and Maurizio Sandro Sala won BPR races in 1995, and which was subsequently taken to the ’96 British GT crown.
The British GT-winning long-tail ‘EMI’ car, an ex-Bigazzi machine raced by Jacques Laffite at Le Mans, and Ralf Schumacher’s race-winning Lark version from the 1996 Japanese GT series, have also been confirmed among a prestigious list of entries.
MINI SPORT PACK ADDS STYLE & BOOSTS RESIDUAL VALUE
5th February 2015
Sports suspension, bonnet stripes, roof spoiler, aero body kit – the MINI Sport Pack packs plenty of punch.
Sport Pack brings exclusive styling accessories to New MINI Hatch
Specifying Sport Pack can add up to 25% to residual values*
Pack is available now, priced from £3,300 on MINI Cooper S
SPECIAL EDITION SL "MILLE MIGLIA 417"
17th February 2015
Mercedes-Benz celebrates the 60th anniversary of a memorable motor racing success with an extraordinary special model of the SL Roadster. Its name commemorates the unexpected victory of a 300 SL in the production sports cars class at the 1955 "Mille Miglia", one of the world's most challenging long-distance races. What's more: the SL Special Edition "Mille Miglia 417" provides a special experience of the unique symbiosis of maximum comfort and motor racing spirit that traditionally characterizes every SL. The Special Edition adds a distinctive note, among other things, with red exterior highlights and fine materials in the exclusively appointed interior.
The Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster is more than an icon. Passion shapes its character and its charisma – in the past and today. Legendary vehicles and their stories dominate the model history. One of them is told by the SL that started the famous "Mille Miglia" in 1955 with race number 417 at 4:17 am. After 11 hours, 29 minutes and 21 seconds it had completed the race distance of 1597 kilometres on public roads from Brescia to Rome and back. Driven by the American private driver John Fitch with assistance from his co-driver Kurt Gessl, it crossed the finish line to great acclaim in fifth place of the overall standings and as the winner of the production sports cars, leaving numerous racing prototypes behind. Production 300 SL cars also took second and third place in this class.
LEXUS LF-SA CONCEPT TO MAKE WORLD PREMIERE AT THE 2015 GENEVA MOTOR SHOW
17th February 2015
Lexus will reveal its all-new concept, the LF-SA, at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show.
An illustration of Lexus’ passion for upcoming design trends, the LF-SA concept explores unexpected territories for the brand in a bold and emotional execution.
In a future world which many people see as increasingly influenced by technology and virtual experiences, the LF-SA concept is also a driver-focused vehicle, reflecting Lexus’ vision that real experience will remain ultimate luxury.
The LF-SA concept will be revealed at the Lexus Press Conference taking place on March 3, 2015 at 12:30 P.M. at the Lexus stand (number 4211) in Palexpo, Hall 4.
Lexus launched in 1989 with two luxury sedans and a commitment to pursue perfection. Since that time, Lexus has expanded its line-up to meet the needs of global luxury customers. Lexus is now going beyond its reputation for high quality vehicles with the integration of innovative technology, emotional exterior and interior designs, and engaging driving dynamics and performance. With six models incorporating Lexus Hybrid Drive, Lexus is the luxury hybrid leader. Lexus also offers eight F SPORT models and one F performance model. In the United States, Lexus vehicles are sold through 235 dealers who are committed to exemplary customer service.
ALFA ROMEO 4C SPIDER TO MAKE ITS EUROPEAN DEBUT AT THE 2015 GENEVA MOTOR SHOW
25th February 2015
European Alfa Romeo 4C Spider to debut at Geneva Motor Show.
As with the Coupé its distinctive Spider styling is driven by the quest for light weight, simplicity and aesthetic purity.
No compromise in terms of performance and driving pleasure compared to the hardtop.
New features include covered xenon headlamps, upgraded audio system, new colour and interior finishes and optional dual-mode Akrapovič exhaust.
On sale in the UK in the summer priced from £59,500 OTR
McLAREN 675LT: POWER, A BEAUTIFUL THING
25th February 2015
675LT re-establishes the McLaren ‘Longtail’ heritage, focusing on light weight, optimised aerodynamics, increased power, track-focused dynamics and driver engagement.
0-100 km/h in 2.9 seconds; 0-200 km/h in 7.9 seconds.
100kg weight saving makes the 675LT the lightest in its class, and gives a power-to-weight ratio of 549PS per tonne.
A third of parts changed compared to the 650S which it sits alongside in the McLaren Super Series.
Significantly enhanced M838TL engine in the 675LT features more than 50 percent new components.
Five unique ‘By McLaren’ hero specifications offered
Global premiere at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2015 on stand 1240, at 12.15 CET (11.15 GMT).
