Category: Sports and Racing

Stéphane Lefebvre drives DG Sport’s C3 Rally2 in Belgian Rally Campionship with the support of Citroën Racing

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Team presentation in Brussels in the old premises of Von Thurn und Taxis, now “Maison de la Poste”: from left to right: Andy Malfroy (co-pilot), Xavier Portier (co-pilot) and Stéphane Lefebvre (Pilot)

This week in the “Maison de la Poste” the team was introduced that will use the colors van Citroën Racing will defend this year in the Kroon Oil Belgian Rally Championship 2022. The experienced Stéphane Lefebvre will be at the wheel of the C3 Rally2 from DG Sport, taking up the challenge against the fierce competition. This weekend he is already participating in the Rally of Haspengouw. He never drove in this event, but that only makes the challenge only bigger and more exciting.

The C3 Rally2 is in shape, more than ever…

Since 2017, Citroën Racing has put its many years of experience in rallying at the service of customers and has put in more than 15,000 test kilometers to increase performance, add more reliability and still better handling to the C3 Rally2 drivers and teams.

Jean-François Grandclaudon of Citroën Racing explains: «Since its introduction in 2017, we have worked hard to offer our customers ever faster cars, suitable for all types of pilots and always with a view to reducing operating costs.

In the past two years, the car has changed a lot and our efforts have paid off with national and world titles claimed in recent years in major championships.”

DG Sport is on high alert at home and abroad.

DG Sport has been a loyal partner of Citroën Racing for years and is looking forward to participate in the international WRC2 and the Belgian BRC championship with the Citroën C3 Rally2.

“Thanks to the support of Citroën Racing, we will start with the duo Stéphane Lefebvre – Xavier Portier in the BRC this season. This is a perfect complement to his involvement with Andy Malfoy in the WRC2 Championship.

By participating in both championships, Stéphane will be able to keep up his rhythm and build up even more experience.

Although we are currently only confirming our presence on the first two meetings of the BRC, we aim to be at the starting grid of at least seven rallies to be there and to take home the championship title,” said Alain Georges from DG Sports.

From left to right: Andy Malfroy (co-pilot), Stéphane Lefebvre (pilot), Xavier Portier (co-pilot) and Jonathan Vercellino (Director Marketing Citroën, Belux)

Stéphane Lefebvre is looking forward to the Belgian season.

 “I am looking forward to the start of the Kroon Oil Belgian Rally Championship 2022 this weekend. I like to come to Belgium, all the more because I have already won both the Rally of the Condroz and of Ypres. With a slight handicap in terms of terrain knowledge in Sint-Truiden, I know I will have to drive a perfect first loop and I will be forced to take some more risks than my opponents. But this won’t stop me from approaching this rally in the same way as everyone else: we intend to make our mark from the very beginning in the race,” warns Stéphane.

He admitted to us that in the meantime he has a great love for the Belgian rallying scene and their iconic rallies.

Stay tuned for the Rally of Haspengouw this weekend!

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Two F1 drivers behind the wheel of the new Tonale …

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We reported to you already, dear readers, about Alfa’s new Tonale, the brand’s first compact electrified SUV.

As the entire Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN gathered in La Thuile, Italy, for a break to build up maximum concentration and recharge the batteries ahead of pre-season testing in Barcelona, something was bound to happen with this Tonale.

Valterri Bottas was seduced by the new Tonale…

Indeed the two new Alfa Romeo drivers – Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu – made a stint behind the wheel of this well proportioned and timelessly styled Tonale. The 275-hp Plug-in Hybrid Q4 version with all-wheel drive must have proven certainly entertaining for them!

Impressed as they were about the good road qualities of this Alfa, so significant for the iconic brand, the team had come to La Thuile to focus on their strategies and objectives for the upcoming world championship.  La Thuile, known as the Wild Side of Mont Blanc, maintains and preserves its characteristics as a mountain resort far away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Zhou Guanyu, the Chinese racing driver now entering the Alfa F1 Team ORLEN, competed in the FIA Formula 2 Championship for UNI-Virtuosi Racing from 2019 to 2021, having finished 3rd in the 2021 campaign…

An ideal setting for the CEO of Alfa Romeo Jean-Philippe Imparato and the Team Principal of the Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN, Frédéric Vasseur, flanked by the entire management and communications team, to prepare the next F1 season…with the Tonale setting the tune!   

Hans Knol ten Bensel

We drove the 360 HP DS9 E-Tense 4×4 in Nice… and witnessed the launch of the DS Supercar!

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Arriving late last night from Nice, we report you here immediately about the wonderful driving experience with the most powerful DS9, enjoying its pure GT talents over the winding roads around Grasse and the iconic Côte d’Azur. We will soon tell you more about it.

But the gentlemen of DS Automobiles did even more than just letting us have a drive in their flagship DS9, they also unveiled in the flesh at their press conference a wonderful Supercar, with absolutely stunning looks and performance.

DS Automobiles puts their E-Formula racing experience into practice on our roads… What to think of 815 HP or 600 kW, developed by two electric motors of 250 kW in the front, and 350 kW driving the rear wheels.

Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h is done in a fantastic 2 seconds…and the car is a beauty too!

Much more about this superfast E-“bolide” and the impressive top-level DS9 soon on these pages!

Hans Knol ten Bensel    

The Porsche Taycan will be the new Formula E safety car…

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A Porsche with leadership qualities: When the distinctively designed Taycan pulls out of the pit lane and onto the racetrack in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, it will quickly take the lead. Porsche’s first all-electric sports car is the new safety car in the innovative electric racing series this season. The vehicle will celebrate its racetrack debut at the opening round of the Formula E season on 28/29 January in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia.

Designed to be more than just the Formula E safety car, the Porsche Tycan Turbo S` striking paintwork flies the colours of all eleven teams competing in the Championship, as well as the colours of the FIA and Formula E. It symbolizes the commitment of everyone involved in Formula E and the common path towards the future of all-electric motor racing.

At the same time, it gives a visual expression of social values such as diversity and community. The number 22 acknowledges the performance of the 22 drivers who contest the series this season.

Thanks to its driveability and safety as well as its output of up to 560 kW (761 PS), the high performance Taycan Turbo S is a very good choice in the critical role of a safety car in the only all-electric motorsport World Championship, racing in the heart of iconic world cities including London, Mexico City, New York City, Berlin, Monaco and Seoul. With Launch Control, the flagship model of the Taycan range accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 260 km/h.

More Porsche news soon, last but not least about its Museum… Stay tuned!

Hans Knol ten Bensel

PEUGEOT 9X8 HYBRID HYPERCAR: a unique marriage between style and technology…

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Much more than a racing car, the PEUGEOT 9×8 has grown to become already an iconic object, an aesthetic and technical revolution, an ultimate design adventure.

The reason is simple: For the PEUGEOT 9X8 Hybrid Hypercar, the styling was not only dictated by the necessity to obtain maximum performance. Peugeot wanted it also to be a design object. Therefore, engineers and designers worked closely together to achieve a convergence between style and technology to create a competition vehicle. “The level of discussion was absolutely unprecedented,” said Matthias Hossann, PEUGEOT Style Director. “We had contact with the PEUGEOT Sport team and really worked hand in hand with them.”

Supercar photographer Agnieszka Doroszewicz photographed the car in brutalist architecture…

A competition between the designers…

“To identify the theme for our future racing car, we first launched a competition between the designers. We received a lot of entries because this project sparked tremendous enthusiasm, with the prospect of one day seeing our creation compete against the world’s most prestigious brands on the most mythical circuits.”

Matthias Hossann continued: “Once the theme was chosen with the help of the PEUGEOT Sport engineers, we got to work together. Guided by performance that was never compromised, and under innovative regulations, the engineers left as much leeway as possible to give the designers the freedom of creativity to develop the design of the Hypercar. The PEUGEOT 9X8 was born along with the DNA of the new Hypercar Regulations (LMH) sought after by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, the organizer of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, and presents the basic features of a PEUGEOT. This car will be a milestone in the history of Endurance racing.”

The cabin echoes the brand’s signature i-Cockpit concept…

Another distinctive sign of PEUGEOT’s expertise and style is evident in the 9X8’s interior, which is based on the brand’s signature i-Cockpit concept. As with a series model project, the care for the interior design was matched only by the high demands placed on the exterior: the driver and fans in front of their screens should feel like they are inside a PEUGEOT, beyond any shadow of a doubt. In addition, the entire cockpit of the PEUGEOT 9X8 has been designed to offer the driver the highest degree of ergonomics and intuition.

A photo session before the endurance racing season…

PEUGEOT Design Director Matthias Hossann has placed it in brutalist architecture before starting the Endurance races in 2022. This was an opportunity for fashion and supercar photographer Agnieszka Doroszewicz to play with the light and contrasts of the concrete.

Her photos are a metaphor for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a mythical race in which the light changes as the hours pass. We show you the stunning photos here, of indeed a beautiful racing car…

Hans Knol ten Bensel

DS Automobiles presented at CES in Las Vegas its DS E-TENSE FE21 single seater…

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We are driving the impressive DS 4 E-TENSE, and you will read our driving experiences soon. Did you know that since its launch, DS Automobiles has a 100% electrified range offered to its buyers since 2019?

DS Automobiles was the first premium manufacturer to commit to Formula E, and is the only brand to have won two consecutive Teams’ and Drivers’ titles. As of now, DS Automobiles has renewed its commitment until 2026, while starting development of a new generation of single seater that’s more competitive and more efficient. This technology laboratory enables progress to continue with production models.

On the Stellantis stand, DS Automobiles is showing off its Formula E World Championship DS E-TENSE FE21 single seater, like a winning secret of electrification from the brand.

Taking advantage of its commitment to this competition to transfer its expertise to its production vehicles, DS Automobiles is accelerating its electrification strategy and will present new exclusively 100% full electric models from 2024…

For the moment, with the 100% electric DS 3 CROSSBACK E-TENSE plus DS 4 E-TENSE, DS 7 CROSSBACK E-TENSE and DS 9 E-TENSE plug-in hybrids with 225 to 360 horsepower, every DS is offered with an electrified power unit.

In 2020 and H1 2021, DS Automobiles has been the leading multi-energy brand in Europe with the lowest average CO2 emissions (100.2 g/km WLTP in 2021) with its electrified range (34% of registrations).

More DS news soon!

Hans Knol ten Bensel

The iconic blue of an Alpine…

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All car enthusiasts have the image of a drifting blue Alpine “berlinette” in a corner of their memory. The A110’s heroic performances in the rallies of the 1960s and 1970s left a deep impression for generations and contributed to an instinctive association between the brand and this colour.

“For Alpine, blue is more than a color. It’s territory!” exclaims Antony Villain, Director of Design at Alpine. We can only agree. But blue was not always used on Alpine bolides…

A varied palette

Indeed, the first Alpines were not exactly blue. When Jean Rédélé presented his first productions in the courtyard of the Billancourt factory to Pierre Dreyfus, General Manager of Renault, in the summer of 1955, Jean Rédélé used a varied color palette: a blue, a white and a red car. And when he entered the car in races, the little A106 is sometimes white or light blue, but not yet metallic blue. Also, Alpine street versions were more often ordered in red, white or yellow, instead of in blue.

The birth of a legendary color combination

It is only with the A110 “Berlinette” that metallic blue, which soon becomes iconic, makes its appearance. It seems that this happened at the request of a customer who wanted to see his A110 painted in a blue color called Panama. Jacques Cheinisse, then a regular commercial employee at Alpine and also an amateur pilot in his free time, would have seen it blue and also asked for the A110 that he ordered in early 1963 and used in rallying. A viral choice that was soon applied to all of the official team’s berlinettes. This is to allow the national colors to shine in races, as was formally done at Grand Prix until 1967 (blue for France, red for Italy, green for Great Britain, white and then silver for Germany, etc.). A legendary color combination was born…

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Auto Bild readers elect the Giulia GTAm as Auto Bild Sportscar of 2021…

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We photographed the GTAm for you this summer at the Chateau of Princess Lea in Humain…

The Giulia GTAm certainly stole our car loving heart, and apparently we are not alone. The iconic Italian design, combined with 540 hp engine power, convinced also the readers of AUTO BILD SPORTSCARS.

They elected the Giulia GTAm, the most powerful car ever produced by Alfa Romeo, “AUTO BILD SPORTSCAR of the Year 2021”. A total of 109 current sports car models were put to the readers’ vote. The Giulia GTAm won topped the import rankings in the category “Sedans & Station Wagons”.

Who wouldn’t like to be behind the wheel of this Alfa…

Last year, the readers of AUTO BILD SPORTSCARS elected Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio as the winner. This year, it was the turn of the Giulia GTAm to be chosen for the award.  A major achievement and a source of great pride for the Italian brand. Both awards embody the high regard in which Alfa Romeo is held by German sports car fans.

As you know, the GTAm is built in just 500 numbered units. The Giulia GTA’s well-known acronym stands for “Gran Turismo Alleggerita” (‘lightened grand tourer’), paying tribute to one of the most legendary cars in the brand’s glorious history: the 1965 Giulia Sprint GTA. With the widespread use of ultralight materials, the Giulia GTA’s weight is reduced by up to 100 kg compared to the Giulia Quadrifoglio, and is equipped with an upgraded version of the 540-hp Alfa Romeo 2.9 V6 Bi-Turbo engine with a best-in-class specific output of 187 hp/L.

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Citroën DG Sport Compétition wins the Spa Rally 2021 with WRC3-world champion Yohan Rossel.

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The 2021 sports season ended with magnificent fireworks for DG Sport Compétition. After the victory of Stéphane Lefebvre and Renaud Jamoul in the Condroz Huy Rally, it was now the turn of Yohan Rossel, fresh WRC3 world champion, and Valentin Sarreaud with the Citroën C3 Rally2, to win the Spa rally…

The DG Sport Compétition armada was impressive at the start of the 2021 edition of the Spa Rally, with not fewer than three Citroën C3 Rally2s for Rossel-Sarreaud, Lefebvre-Jamoul and De Cecco-Humblet. Two French top drivers, but with a lack of knowledge of the ‘Spadoise’ specials, a possible handicap compared to the other top names in the Belgian competition. Add to that the difficult weather conditions, typical of December, and the challenge was formidable to say the least…

Yohan Rossel admitted to being surprised by the slippery surfaces and lack of grip in the first stages. But as conditions continued to deteriorate, the pilot from the French Gard region started to attack, taking advantage of the delicate WRX section on the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps to take the lead. And he never abandoned this lead position during this Spa Rally …

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Porsche Vision Gran Turismo: a stunning virtual racing bolide…

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This time we are entering the fascinating world of gaming. Did you know for instance that Gran Turismo™ is a video game developed by Polyphony Digital Inc., a subsidiary of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc? It was launched in Japan first in 1997, and is now regarded as the best and most authentic driving simulator due to true-to-life graphics, authentic physics technology and careful attention to detail. Addictive it must be. Your servant was decades ago already crazy about the first versions of flight simulator. Imagine this…

The news is that Porsche and the Japanese video game development studio Polyphony Digital Inc., present a spectacular virtual vehicle concept. Porsche has been a partner of Polyphony already a few years now.

Indeed, the ‘Gran Turismo’ game series has featured Porsche sports cars since 2017, most recently the Taycan Turbo S. For the launch of the game’s seventh edition, Porsche has, for the first time, developed a vehicle purely for the virtual world. The Porsche Vision Gran Turismo is the sports car manufacturer’s first concept study created specifically for use in a computer game. It will be available exclusively in Gran Turismo 7, which will be released on 4 March 2022 for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.

Exciting freedom for Porsche designers…

By partnering with Polyphony Digital, Porsche is not only demonstrating its special visionary approach, but is once again also demonstrating the high level of expertise among its designers. Freed from the constraints of developing models for series production, they were able to put their own ideas for a Gran Turismo concept car into practice.

“A vehicle designed purely for the virtual world opens up exciting possibilities for us that are otherwise heavily regimented in a regular design process for a series production car,” says Michael Mauer, Vice President Style Porsche. “Projects such as the Porsche Vision Gran Turismo are particularly valuable for us in the creative process. Further developing our clearly defined Porsche Design DNA and exchanging with designers from other industries is an important part of our work.”

The Vision Gran Turismo indeed features future-oriented versions of familiar Porsche design elements. The concept car exhibits the brand’s typical proportions with a sporty height-to-width ratio, a low-set bonnet and very pronounced wings. The lights in the purist front and the integrated air intakes create a visual link to the design language of the Taycan – a nod to the car’s purely electric drive.

The rear is adorned with a markedly narrow light strip – a further development of the light signature that is familiar from the 911 and Taycan models. The clear emphasis of the brand identity continues in the interior, with the curved hologram display, tailored to the driver, which appears to float above the steering wheel. The low seating position underscores the car’s dynamic feel. The realistic surface appearances in the interior also play a major role. “We spent a long time considering the right material design consisting of carbon and titanium. The aim was to reduce weight while increasing performance,” says Markus Auerbach, Head of Interior Design at Porsche. “In addition, sustainable aspects also play a role in forward-looking projects. For example, we only used entirely vegan materials in the concept car.”

“The appeal of a Porsche comes from its purist design,” says Kazunori Yamauchi, President, Polyphony Digital. “And in terms of engineering expertise, both we and Porsche follow the same perfectionist philosophy. We share the same passion for racing and are looking to the future of the car.”

In addition to purely design-related themes, there are also new functions that contribute to a strong sports car feeling, with players experiencing haptic feedback via the controller, which mimics the feel of the steering wheel. This fast and direct feedback is reminiscent of a real racing car.

Strategic for Porsche…

Expanding its gaming activities also has strategic significance for Porsche. “We can engage young and digital target groups in the place where their automotive dreams are born: the world of gaming,” says Robert Ader, Vice President Marketing at Porsche AG. “The partnership with Polyphony Digital and ‘Gran Turismo’ is a perfect fit for Porsche, because motorsport – whether real or virtual – is part of our DNA.” The integration of the first Porsche sports car developed purely for the virtual space is an important milestone in the strategic partnership between Porsche and Polyphony Digital Inc.

Actually, Porsche has been cooperating with various companies from the gaming industry for several years and these activities are now an integral part of the marketing mix. The overriding goal is to create a lasting brand experience…

We show you the photos here… and I look forward to a Polyphony Gaming experience!

Hans Knol ten Bensel