Michael Schumacher drives Zinedine Zidane

Michael Schumacher returned at the wheel of his personal Ferrari FXX, to drive his friend Zinedine Zidane around the Magny Cours circuit. The money raised from the event will be used for charity purposes.

Schumi drives his Ferrari around Magny Cours:



The FXX is the most advanced GT ever created at Maranello and its mission is to involve Ferrari’s most valued Clients as genuine Prancing Horse Test Drivers in their own right.

The FXX has not been homologated for road use and thus will not be a competition model. It will be used exclusively on the track as part of a specific ongoing research and development programme featuring this first ever group of Client Test Drivers.The FXX is powered by an imposing 6,262 cc V12 engine that can punch out over 800 bhp at 8,500 rpm. Its gearbox is the result of the transfer of F1 strategies, delivering gear change times of under 100 ms. This is almost as fast as the F1 single-seaters, themselves the absolute pinnacle of current technological achievement.

Not sure its for everybody, especially at the £1.1M price tag.

Police chief calls for return of hidden speed cameras

Here we go again facing the the return of hidden speed cameras after Britain’s top traffic policeman said that more lives would be saved if drivers were unable to predict where they could be caught.

Med Hughes, Chief Constable of South Yorkshire, and head of roads policing at the Association of Chief Police Officers, has opened the way for forces to stop painting cameras yellow or informing drivers where they will be using mobile camera vans.

Until April, policy allowed Police to keep part of the fine. In return, they had to abide by a set of rules, including a requirement for cameras to be conspicuous and clearly signposted.

The Government changed the system after protests that police had a financial incentive to catch drivers. The Police now receive a fixed grant but they are no longer bound by the rules that stated that “camera housings must be coloured yellow” and be visible from 60 metres (197ft) on a road with a 40mph limit or less and 100 metres on other roads.

The rules also required Police to publicise the location of mobile cameras. North Wales Police Force have already stopped publishing details of where it is carrying out speed enforcement.

Another rule that has ceased to apply had required Police to focus almost all their enforcement on roads where there had been several deaths or serious injuries. North Wales and Cumbria now focus on roads which they believe to be dangerous but where there have been no serious crashes.

More information at: Speed Cameras Dot Org

Car feature - Nissan GT-R

The GT-R coupe will replacement the high-performance Skyline GT-R and is scheduled to go on sale in 2007.

However, the details of the beefy GT-R’s mechanical specification and the design of its interior remain continues to be the subject of speculation. Current thinking is that more than one version of the car will be offered: An entry-level rear-driver with around 350bhp, and this, the V-spec. Benchmark-testing against a Porsche 911 Turbo, lends weight to the speculation that the GT-R V-spec’s twin-turbo V6, which has been developed with the help of Cosworth and probably 3.8 litres in capacity – will produce around 470bhp and that the car's chassis will employ an evolution of the ATTESA four-wheel-drive system from the R34 Skyline.

Although it will offer 911 Turbo-matching power, the GT-R V-spec is expected to be priced closer to a regular Carrera, at around £60K, when it comes to the UK in 2008.

Renault F1 paint job

Renault has unveiled this new livery before the Silverstone Grand Prix, with a paintjob matching that of the first-ever Renault F1 car - the turbocharged RS01.

Renault won't want to take anything but artistic inspiration from the RS01. Nicknamed the 'Yellow Teapot', the RS01 was an unreliable mess on the track, failing to finish any races in its first season.

Unfortunately we're not going to see the yellow car on the track though - it's a one-off created to celebrate 30 years of Renault in F1.

But maybe, with a bit of persuasion, Renault might adopt the livery permanently. The way their F1 season is going so far, we can't imagine that Heikki or Fisi will complain.

Driving Dilemma: Traffic Lights and the Police..

So you're are stopped at a red light and you hear the sound of a siren from behind suddenly a Police car appears in you rear view mirror with lights flashing and siren blazing. Do you go through the red light or make them wait?

This is a difficult one because if the set of lights has a camera you will be prosecuted for running the red light never mind the possibility that you will have an accident. If you hold them up you will cost the emergency services valuable seconds.

What would you do?

Fewer deaths on British Roads

Great news this month, the number of people killed in road accidents in Great Britain fell last year by 1% as part of a 5% overall reduction in road casualties.

Similarily road deaths have fallen by 4% to 1,612, and the number seriously injured fell by 2% to 12,642. These are the latest figures released from the Department for Transport.

Viewed from a longer-term perspective, the number of people killed or seriously injured was 33% below the 1994-98 average. The Government's target is to have the figures for deaths and serious injuries down to 40% below 1994-98 levels by 2010.

Department of Transport web site

BMW 118d Drops Into Low Road Tax Bracket

BMW’s 118d, the most fuel efficient production car of modern times has set a new record - a staggering 62.8mpg on the combined cycle and CO2 emissions of 119g/km - putting it into the Band B category for Vehicle Excise Duty. The BMW 118d now costs just £35 a year to tax!

The 143hp 2.0-litre-engined 118d employs technologies such as Brake Energy Regeneration, Auto Start-Stop, Electric Power Steering and low rolling resistance tyres to help cut fuel bills and emissions. An optimum gearshift change indicator is included to encourage economical motoring. These innovations are in addition to the use of variable valve technologies and high-precision direct injection engines on some 1 Series models that further aid engine performance.

BMW Offical site

New Alfa Romeo to carry the TI Badge

Only a small number of Alfa Romeos have ever carried the famous two-letter designation, TI.

The New Alfa 159 saloon and Sportwagon will carry the famous TI initials(Short for Turismo Internazionale).

The range-enhancing Alfa 159 TI line-up benefits from a unique body kit, lowered sports suspension, 19-inch alloy wheels, red Brembo brake callipers all-round, plus chrome effect door mirrors and exhaust.

There are three engines options : a 2.2 JTS and 3.2 JTS V6 petrol engine and a 2.4 Diesel option. In addition, Alfa Romeo’s Q4 4WD system, standard equipment on the 3.2 JTS V6, can also be specified on the diesel version.

And, by offering only three body colours – Alfa Red, Stromboli Grey and Carbonio black – Alfa Romeo is planning to keep the Alfa 159 TI models distinctive and exclusive.

This could be a winner again for Alfa Romeo.

20mph zones planned in many cities

Residential areas in Britain’s towns and cities could all end up as 20mph zones.

Portsmouth City Council recently announced it was taking advantage of Government legislation which allows local authorities to ditch 30mph limits for the slower 20 mile limit on streets where people live.

It's not only Portsmouth introduding this new legislation, Manchester City Council is also scheduled to introduce 20mph zones in all residential areas, with the priority going to streets near schools.

Aberdeen’s civic leaders cut the speed limit in the city’s main shopping precinct last August. The point of 20mph zones is to try to cut casualty rates among all pedestrians and cyclists, but especially children. Portsmouth officials believe it will lower average speeds by up to 4mph.

Murrey Walker is back!

Veteran Murray Walker will broadcast for Radio 5 live for the European Grand Prix on 22nd July. Although this will be a one off broadcast, it will be a welcome return for the F1 veteran.

Walker's been heralded as the 'voice of motorsport' and is legendary for his enthusiasm, excitement and occasional Murray-isms (mistakes).

83-year-old Murray comes out of retirement to host a special F1 radio phone in programme live from the Nurburgring after the Grand Prix. He's standing in for regular commentator David Croft, whose baby is due that weekend. We think ITV can expect most of their viewers to be watching on mute!

Traffic wardens go environmental

Traffic wardens are now ticketing drivers who leave engines running unnecessarily.

Manchester’s city patrols can levy £80 penalties on the spot for environmental offences including littering, ‘engine idling’ and ‘unlawful distribution of free literature’.

Spokesman Neil Swannick said: "Parking attendants already play a vital role in the city centre on a number of non-parking-related issues, such as combating vehicle crime and preventing the fraudulent use of blue badges.

In a world where the traffic warden thinks he is a Policeman do we really want to give him yet another excuse to make money for the city - I think not.

Car Feature - Bugatti Veryron

The Bugatti Veryron is, by every measure, the world's fastest production road car. It's the quickest to 60, it has the highest top speed, and it can absolutely dominate a track.

With a claimed 1001bhp, the Veyron is a major technical achievement. Its engine has 16 cylinders, essentially formed by joining two V8 engines at the crank.

This W16 powerplant displaces 8.0 litres and features ten radiators for everything from the engine cooling systems to the air conditioner.

The £0.75 million Veyron will reach a top speed of 253 mph — a speed it can maintain for 12 minutes before all the fuel is gone. Power is transmitted to the pavement via four-wheel-drive and a seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission.

The car can hit 60 mph in just 2.5 seconds, 100 mph in 5.5 seconds, and 150 mph in 9.8 seconds. Getting to 200 mph takes 18.3 seconds, and 250 mph takes 42.3 seconds.
A special key is required to "unlock" the Veyron's top speed of 250+ mph. The car is then lowered to just 3.5 inches from the ground. A hydraulic spoiler extends at speed, and it can also serve as an air brake.

Schumacher at Wembly in December

Michael Schumacher will be at Wembley Stadium this December when the Race of Champions is held in the UK for the first time. The seven-time Formula One world champion will take on a star line-up including Colin McRae, David Coulthard, Jenson Button, Andy Priaulx and other big names from rallying, touring car racing and F1.

Usually held in France, the end-of-season contest involves drivers from different disciplines going head to head in a variety of racing cars. Up to 80,000 spectators will be able to watch the live action on Sunday 16 December in the recently opened Wembley, which will get a temporary tarmac surface for the event.

Goodwood start this weekend

The Goodwood Festival of Speed starts this weekend. Goodwood is one of the world's biggest and most diverse celebrations of the history of motorsport. The festival is an unrivalled social and sporting occasion in the motor racing calendar.

In 1936 the 9th Duke of Richmond held a private hillclimb through Goodwood Park, bringing motor racing to Goodwood for the first time. The Goodwood Motor Circuit was opened in 1948 by the Duke, whose early events inspired his grandson (the present Earl of March) to bring motor sport back to Goodwood in Chichester with the first Festival of Speed, in 1993.

The Hillclimb competition is the principal attraction of the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The competition takes place throughout the Festival weekend on a 1.16-mile course on parkland roads in the grounds of Goodwood House.

This year see the first apperance of Lewis Hamilton, who is currently leading the F1 Drivers Championship.

Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren Roadster

Mercedes has chosen this weekend’s Festival of Speed at Goodwood, in West Sussex, England, for the world’s first-ever public viewing of the incredible new Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster.

Hand built by AMG the 5439cc, supercharged V8 engine develops a peak output of a wopping 626 bhp and delivers its maximum torque of 780 Nm from 3250 rpm - a figure which remains constant across a broad engine speed range of up to 5000 rpm.

This fantastic engine package delivers performance figures which are among the best in its class: taking just 3.8 seconds to sprint from 0 to 62 mph, it passes the 125 mph mark after 10.6 seconds, and from a standing start it takes just 28.8 seconds to reach 185 mph The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren has a top speed of 207 mph.