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Mount Panorama Motor Racing Circuit, Bathurst, to give it its full name, is the home of motorsport in Australia. Located in New South Wales, it has a rich motorsport history - the first race held there was the 1938 Australian Grand Prix and it now hosts the Bathurst 12 Hour and the Bathurst 1000 races amongst others. The challenging circuit is 6.213 km long with surprisingly steep inclines, a twisty, narrow section across the top of the mountain which proves difficult to master even for the very best racing drivers, and very little run off area to allow for mistakes.

The Pit

Gran Turismo 6 To Feature Legendary Bathurst Circuit

IN Gran Turismo 6, GT6, Sony, Playstation

Australia's Mount Panorama Motor Racing Circuit, Bathurst will appear in Gran Turismo for the first time.

BP: Some people have said that the best racing drivers didn’t pass their driving tests on the first try - Jenson Button for example. How many attempts did you take to obtain your driver’s licence?
Alain: I did the test when I was 18 years old, the normal age at the time, and passed on the first try. (chuckles)

BP: What was your first car, and what’s your preference for your road cars you drive?

Alain: I never liked driving sports cars. When you’re driving in Formula 1 you want something a little more comfortable. The first car I bought was an Opel Kadett GT/E, which was a rally car. Unfortunately, that was the only car I had an accident with. I was going quite slow to be honest, but it was on gravel, and my friend and I ended up going 30m down the (side of a) hill. I’d only had the car three weeks, so that was quite a bad experience!

BP: I understand that your son is currently a test driver for Lotus. How is he going with that? With Kimi moving to Ferrari, might there be a spot for him next year?

Alain: It is never impossible, because he has done a good job in the last two years, and spent a lot of time on the simulator. But being a development driver, he is very focused, and it is a different way of working and it is very good for the team. Being a race driver is going to be another different thing, with qualifying one lap or doing the start, (or) even if he races in endurance or other types of races. So it is two different things and I realised it and he knows it himself that it will be difficult for him to be chosen by the team but you never know.

BP: All the best for that!

Motorsports

A Meeting With The Professor

IN Renault, Alain Prost, Prost, Wearnes,

Racing drivers live and breathe motorsports throughout their careers, but have you ever wondered what happens when they stop?

Motorsports

Mika Hakkinen Joins Erebus Motorsport For GT Asia Series

IN Mika Hakkinen, GT Asia, SLS AMG GT3

Two times Formula 1 World Champion, Mika Hakkinen will join Erebus Motorsport for the GT Asia Series when it visits the Zhuhai International Circuit in China this October 11-13.

And this is the targeted buyers in the sights of BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz; handsomely-paid, up and coming young executives upgrading to their first executive sedans; this bunch consists of Volkswagen Golf/Jetta, Lancer EX and FD Honda Civic owners who are always on the lookout for good deals (read: upgrade) in the segment.

New

IS This It? | Lexus IS250 F-Sport

IN Lexus, IS250, F-Sport, Executive sedan, Borneo Motors

Lexus surprises the executive sedan world with its aggressive IS250 F-Sport. But can executives warm up to it in a German dominated market?

As part of the launch, Red Bull Racing F1 driver Mark Webber made an appearance at NUS to catch up with the engineering students and Prof. Seah Kar Heng. The faculty received the driver with a warm welcome and managed to get some advise and encouragement from the Australian racer.

Happenings

Infiniti Offers Top Budding Engineers Work Placements In F1

IN Infiniti, National University of Singapore, Mark Webber, NUS, Red Bull Racing

In this chance of a lifetime, Infiniti is offering performance-driven engineering graduates an exclusive opportunity to work in Formula One via a new global talent search initiative.

Happenings

McLaren Singapore Collaborates With Leica

IN McLaren, P1

Leica Camera, with Geoff Ang, collaborates with McLaren Singapore on an exclusive photography shoot on the ultimate performance car, the McLaren P1.

At centre stage is the complex dynamic between man, machine and Mother Nature, brimming with inspiring risks and practical manoeuvres in the face of life-threatening situations. Watch as Bill and Gary resort to using vines and trees as swings to push Ruby through the lush forests — Tarzan-style; witness a possible record-breaking climb over the 14,000-ft high (over 4,260 metres) southeastern Pico De Orizaba Mountain — the tallest in Mexico — which has the reputation of swallowing explorers in its crags; and hold your breath as the trio attempt to navigate across a host of sites where no car has ever gone before, including tackling a volcanic crater lake — rumoured to have been a site of human sacrifice climb — and fording the Rio Hardy by raft. It will take more than skills, expertise and quick-thinking to complete their quest. Witness the heart-pounding action in CAR VS. WILD. Encores every Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. (1500 hrs), Saturday at 9:00 p.m. (2100 hrs) and Sunday 9:00 a.m. (0900 hrs) and 4:00 p.m. (1600 hrs).

The Pit

Car Vs. Wild

IN SUV, Off-Road, 4 x 4, Car Vs. Wild

For gearheads and survival junkies: It's time to rev up your engines for an action packed adventure!

The application, which can be found here is based on the Business Discovery technology, which is currently helping hundreds of companies gleam information about their organisation. This app is a fun way to show how easy it can be to drill into details and retrieve useful F1 data, and for anyone with a tablet or a smartphone, this app will definitely help get your engine all revved up and ready for the upcoming race in Singapore.

The Pit

QlikView Launches Grand Prix App

IN QlikView, F1, Grand Prix App

For us Singaporeans, September is the time of the year when we go nuts over fast drivers and mean machines.

“The Samsung GALAXY S4 zoom With LTE is a true showcase of our efforts to understand what our consumers most need to enjoy the best things in life,” said Irene Ng, Vice President, Marketing, Samsung Asia Pte Ltd. “As communication becomes increasingly multi-faceted, people are looking for devices which can complement their lifestyles, without having to worry about space capacity or inconvenience of bringing multiple devices. The GALAXY S4 zoom With LTE is the ideal device, as it combines the industry leading functionality and connectivity of the GALAXY S4 with the high quality photographic experience you’d expect from a compact camera.”

The Pit

Samsung Launches The GALAXY S4 Zoom In Singapore

IN Samsung, Galaxy S4, S4 Zoom

A revolutionary new device that converges the best of a high performance smartphone and camera, including a 10x Optical Zoom for perfect picture taking.

The facelift for the XC60 really is just that — a slight refinement of its aesthetics while leaving the mechanicals untouched. Compared to the old model, most of the changes have been made to the front end: the headlamp cluster is now a single unit, the grille is wider and has been de-chromed, and DRLs have been installed. The entire body is also now shorn of all black plastic cladding, reflecting the fact that this car’s home is on the blacktop, not the rough stuff.

New

XCuses Not Needed | Volvo XC60 T5

IN Volvo, XC60, T5, Wearnes Automotive

A slight nip here, a little tuck there — Volvo’s just refreshed half its range and this is our first sampling of it.

The new Lexus ES model range will be re-introduced to the Singapore market after a seven-year hiatus. The ES, which previously made its reputation among Lexus Singapore owners as a popular mid-sized luxury sedan, will once again deliver exemplary comfort, contemporary luxury as well as dynamic composure and refinement in this new iteration of the model range. The return of the new ES will allow a new generation of drivers the opportunity to experience the sophistication and refinement of one of Lexus’ best-selling models of all time.

Happenings

Lexus To Launch New ES In Singapore

IN Lexus, ES, ES 250, Hybrid, Borneo Motors Singapore

Borneo Motors (Singapore) Pte Ltd has announced that the new, highly popular ES model range will be launched in Singapore in the last quarter (Q4) of 2013.

But that's not all. Also found in the Limited Edition Car Pack are five new cars that are already destined for legendary status. Each car in the ‘Forza Motorsport 5’ Limited Edition Car Pack will feature a Limited Edition livery and will be tuned to the top of its respective class. Some of the cars in the ‘Forza Motorsport 5’ Limited Edition Car Pack include:

- 2013 McLaren P1 — The successor to McLaren’s legendary F1, the McLaren P1 is an automotive highlight reel: technological innovation, gorgeous contours, and pure, unapologetic performance. Epic, legendary, astounding — words tend to fail when describing this car’s limitless potential.

- 2011 Audi RS 3 Sportback — More than a mere grocery-getter, the RS 3 Sportback marries performance with practicality. The result is a 340-horsepower grin-generator that will paste your head to the back of the seat and not crack a single egg in the process.

- 2012 Aston Martin Vanquish — As comfortable on the track as it is on cozy country lanes, the Aston Martin Vanquish is equal parts refined style and snarling, road-taming grit.

- 2013 Ford M Shelby Mustang GT500 — While the GT500’s aggressive lines suggest raw power and straight-line speed to spare, the sound of that big 5.8-liter V8 simply screams, “Get out of the way!”

- 2013 SRT Viper GTS — The return of the Viper has been celebrated by automotive fans worldwide. With an 8.4-litre V10 that’s capable of pushing the GTS to a top speed north of 200 mph, the 2013 Viper GTS has once again firmly entrenched its spot near the top of the American Muscle hierarchy.

The Pit

Forza Motorsport 5 Limited Edition

IN Forza Motorsport 5, Microsoft, Xbox, Gaming

Microsoft and Turn 10 Studios has announced details for the Limited Edition version of ‘Forza Motorsport 5’.

Setting the R apart from other Golfs are different bumpers front and rear, as well as a diffuser and quad chrome-tipped tailpipes. 18-inch ‘Cadiz’ wheels are standard, 19s an option, and the R gets a unique paint colour called Lapis Blue metallic. Inside, you get sports seats trimmed in alcantara or Nappa leather, stainless steel pedals and door sills, as well as a smattering of R badges throughout the interior, including on the leather-wrapped steering wheel.

Happenings

Rated R for Rapid

IN Volkwagen, Golf, R, VW, Hot hatch

Not long ago, the Golf R32/Golf R had its corner of the market to itself, its power and price elevating it above tamer hatches. But with new rivals from premium brands, is the Golf R still the daddy?

Flanked in the Maranello marque’s range by the multi-award-winning 458 Italia and 458 Spider, the new mid-rear-engined V8 berlinetta was designed to boost both performance and driving emotion to unprecedented levels, yet simultaneously guarantee smooth, effortless control in all kinds of situations.

Having lavished meticulous attention on the power unit that was named 'Best Performance Engine' at the International Engine of the Year Awards for two consecutive years, Ferrari has now built its most powerful naturally aspirated V8 ever (605 cv) with an extraordinary specific power output of 135 cv/l, the highest ever achieved by a road-going naturally aspirated engine.

Happenings

The Ferrari 458 Speciale To Debut At Frankfurt

IN Ferrari, 458, Speciale

Extreme technology for an uncompromising new V8.

Well, I took it out on a nice long drive to find out. With the wife in tow, we drove up north to Malacca to see how the GTI cabriolet performed on the long North-South Highway stretches, along winding B-roads through the connecting towns, and even slow city drives through busy lanes like Jonker Street. This is my verdict.

New

Roller Coaster | Golf GTI Cabriolet

IN Volkswagen Group Singapore, Volkswagen, VW, Golf, GTI, Cabriolet

A convertible Golf GTI? Is there really a market for one? Is it really a compelling option? We drive one to find out...

To mark G-SHOCK’s milestone 30th anniversary in Singapore, this year’s ‘SHOCK THE WORLD 2013’ tour in Singapore was held at The Coliseum, Hard Rock Hotel, at the Resorts World Sentosa. In an exclusive collaboration between G-SHOCK and two of Singapore’s most talented designers, the event featured the unveiling of limited edition stylized G-SHOCK watches designed by local fashion designers.

The Pit

G-SHOCK Celebrates 30 Years Of Timepiece Innovation

IN Casio, G-Shock, 30th Anniversary

G-SHOCK marks milestone anniversary with a dance and music extravaganza and exclusive local designs that embodies its progressive design and ‘indestructible’ timepieces.

Time Trial Mode, the most requested feature by the game’s community, allows players to challenge themselves, their friends and the world as they move up the leader board. Based on user feedback, repairs have been removed and replaced with a Clean Race Bonus, focusing the game on rewarding good driving instead of punishing the ones who can’t drive. Players will now also receive a daily bonus for the first race of each day and have the opportunity to earn bigger bonuses for consecutive days of play.

The Pit

Real Racing 3 ‘Prestige’ Update

IN Real Racing 3, Gaming

Content includes new cars, time trial mode, career system, daily and clean race bonuses.

On a separate note, the A250’s suspension system seems to have been set with the enthusiastic driver in mind. If you’re expecting C-Class level, the A250’s rather stiff setting might need some getting used to. It could just be yours truly, but when going over bumps, there’s that uncanny feeling the rear’s independent suspension has been mated to a stiffer pair of spring compared to the fronts.

New

A+ For Effort | Mercedes-Benz A250 Sport

IN Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes, A-Class, A250, A250 Sport, Sport

So the A250 Sport is marketed as the sportiest A-Class, with promising on-paper digits — but overcoming the looks, does it fall into hot-hatch territory?

We were very impressed with the latest seventh-generation Golf when we tested it both abroad in Italy and on home ground. Back then though, the car we managed to get a drive in was the 140 bhp Sport model. We find out this time, how the base model 1.4 TSI with 122 bhp fares.

New

The Real Thing | Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI

IN Volkswagen Group Singapore, Volkswagen, VW, Golf, 1.4 TSI, DSG, Mk 7

Every Coke has its Pepsi, every iPad, its Galaxy Tab (cue flame war). But only one name has the qualities that make it 'The Real Thing'. When it comes to hatchbacks, the Golf is that name.

The Renault Megane RS 265 did that to me. You see, I have an affinity for Renault’s modern hot-hatches; they’re special and unique, and you need to drive them (hard, most times) to truly appreciate these finely tuned cars. The first Megane RS I drove - yes, that oddly shaped one - was a blast and definitely began my whole entire love affair with hyper Renaults. Then came the hotter R26 — a few laps around Sepang made me wonder how on earth did Renault put together such a brilliant car.

New

Go, Go Power Ranger | Renault Megane RS 265

IN Renault, Megane, RS, RS 265, Renault Megane RS 265, Wearnes Automotive

What to do when you want to keep your sweet handling hot-hatch ahead of the competition? Well according to Renault, you add more powaaaaaah…