The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts
Ford's unexpected win in Australia creates new interest in the season. The Block Ford pictured.
Photos courtesy of Citroën Communication, Abu Dhabi World Rally Team, Ford Motor Company, BMW Press, Rally Australia – Media [Read more…] about Rally Australia: Visuals
Detail of the new Ferrari 458 Italia Spider....
By Roberto Motta
Photo media-Ferrari
On August 23, Ferrari officially released images of the new 458 Spider. The new car from Maranello, which will be presented at the next Frankfurt Motor Show (15-25 September), will enhance the range of Ferrari 8-cylinder rear-engined cars. Like the 458 Italia, the Spider is powered by a 4499 cc V8 engine that, thanks to direct injection power, is capable of delivering 570 hp. It was with this engine Ferrari won the International Engine of the Year Award of 2011, largely thanks to its drivability, performance and technical design choices.
[Read more…] about Ferrari Introduces the 458 Spider: In English and Italian
Ogier on the way to winning the German WRC.
Ogier wins, Loeb re-ups and the Mini gets a Podium
Complete results and Italian version below
By Roberto Motta
Photos courtesy of Citroën Communication, Abu Dhabi World Rally Team, Ford Motor Company, BMW Press, ADAC Rallye Deutschland-Media
The Rally of Germany began with the news that Citroën fans were waiting for: the signing of the agreement between the Citroën and Sebastien Loeb for the 2012 and 2013 seasons. The news was announced as Loeb is once again leading the standings with a chance to win his eighth consecutive title. But the Rally of Germany ended with a victory won not by Loeb but his teammate Sebastien Ogier.
[Read more…] about Rally Germany 2011 In English and Italian
By Roberto Motta Photos courtesy and copyright GRAND-AM/Brian Cleary
As we reported last week, the new Ferrari 458 Italia Grand Am would be tested at Daytona. The results were a positive debut for Italy 458 Grand Am, concluded after two days of testing at Daytona International Speedway’s track in Florida.
[Read more…] about Ferrari Grand Am Flies at Daytona: In English and Italian
Spada Codatronca Monza was recently introduced at the Monza circuit.
By Roberto Motta, photos by Aznom
Scroll down for Italian text and more images
On July 11 2011 at the legendary Autodromo Nazionale Monza, the new Spada Codatronca Monza was presented to the press.
Paolo and Ercole Spada (of Zagato fame) as well as Domiziano Boschi are responsible for the design of the Codatronca (truncated tail—remember the Alfa Romeo SZs?) requested by Aznom, a company that specializes in the world of luxury and is also a corporate partner in Spadavetturesport.
[Read more…] about New Spada Codatronca Monza In English and Italiano
By Roberto Motta
Photos courtesy of Citroën Communication, Abu Dhabi World Rally Team, Ford Motor Company, and Media Citroen WRC Neste Oil Rally Finland.
Sebastien Loeb won the Rally of Finland, increasing his lead in the championship rally. The Citroen driver dominated the rally, remaining in command right from Shakedown, but also managed to resist the final challenge of the Ford WRC of Jari-Matti Latvala. With this victory, and with only five more events to be run, we can safely say that the World Rally Championship is being tinted in the red, white and blue of the French flag. [Read more…] about Rally Finland 2011 In English and Italian
By Roberto Motta
Photos: Ferrari Media
After the GT2, GT3 and Challenge versions of the 458, on 18 July, at the Fiorano circuit, debuted the Ferrari 458 Italia Grand Am, a model name one is more likely to remember, if in fact it becomes official nomenclature.
Based on the GT3 version of the Italia and destined for the U.S. Grand Am North American series, it was built in collaboration with Michelotto Cars of Padua, Italy,
[Read more…] about Ferrari 458 Grand Am Italia in English and Italian
By Roberto Motta
All photos by Renault Internal / Press
Part I Construction and Development
The post-war period saw a great development of the aerospace industry. In France, a little team of engineers decided to apply aeronautic technologies to a record car, and the result was the Étoile Filante (Shooting Star). It was a meteoric success….
By Roberto Motta
All photos by Renault Internal / Press
The record
On August 17th, Albert Lory, his team and the French streamliner embarked on a airplane for the U.S.A. At the same time the U.S.A. subsidiary of Renault was mobilized under the leadership of Robert Lamaison, director of Renault U.S.A.
[Read more…] about Renault hits 190mph—in 1956! Part II
Antony Berni with his Fiat Abath 1000 TCR.
Words and photos by Roberto Motta
Italian text at end of photo selection
The idea of creating a gathering dedicated to owners of Abarths stems from the fact that there are not many opportunities to enjoy Abarths. Therefore, about a year ago, a few friends and sympathizers of the marque decided to organize the Historic Abarth track day.
Giorgio Solda in a 1979 Formula Fiat Abarth, Carlo Abarth's last project.
Friends included Tony Berni, Abarth specialist and founder of Berni Motors, Perry (Pierangelo) Passini of Franzoni’s Auto Brescia, and Giuseppe Giuffré, president of the Italian Abarth Historic Register.
This year was the second event and was held on June 30 2011 at the Circuit de Francia Corta ‘Daniel Bonera’, (located in the province of Brescia in Lombardy) with participants from all over Europe, had both a race and show. Abarth owners were able to prove their car on the track, and a show is held for those not eager to race. This year the show turned the paddock of the circuit in a real open air museum.
Horst-Pichler with SE021, a 2000 sports prototype built for the 1971 European Constructor's Championship.
The event drew about 100 participants and over fifty cars registered for the track. The cars were divided into four categories, and each category was allowed to use the track for a test period of 25 minutes each.
Berlina 1000 TC Radiale of Giuseppe Giuffré, president of the Italian Abarth Historic Register.
All Black and White images © Alfa Romeo Automobilismo Storico, Centro Documentazione (Arese, Milano)
This is the third in our series of articles about the 1955-1961 Alfa Giulietta Berlina.
For Italy, the post war era was full of significant changes that would last more than a decade; these were the years of the Cold War as opposed to the dream of a united Europe; the launching of the first atomic-powered submarine; the Warsaw Pact; the birth of Rock ‘n’ Roll; Sputnik from the east and Barbie dolls from the west; the success of the Beatles and the death of Kennedy that signaled the end of an era.
[Read more…] about Alfa Berlina 1300, Italian Style
By Roberto Motta
Photos by: Media Audi, Peugeot Media, DPPI, Ferrari and Porsche Werk-Media photo
After the unfortunate experience in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Peugeot is back. Having resolved all the problems the team triumphed at the Circuit Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola 6 hours on July 3rd. [Read more…] about Peugeot Wins at Imola! In English and Italian