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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?

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.

The LF-LC’s main styling highlight is its one-piece glass roof, which incorporates both the front and rear windscreens and is supported by a lightweight, cantilevered pillar inspired from modern architecture. Framed by a
deep aluminium surround, the ‘spindle’ grille’s mesh pattern gives it a 3D effect, while the L-shaped daytime running lights with vertical fog lamps suggest a sense of movement. A rear deck spindle grille design echoes the front of the LF-LC, with L-shaped tail lamps utilising inner lighting (inspired by a jet’s afterburner) creating a sense of depth and width.

Happenings

Lexus Showcases the LF-LC Concept Car In Singapore

IN Lexus, LF-LC, Hybrid, Concept, Display

Lexus dealer brings in its stunning LF-LC concept car for a limited time.

Every $30 nett spent gives customers a chance to try their luck with Caltex’s Lucky Star Promotion. Simply key your total expenditure and your vehicle’s registration number into the iPad mini at the service kiosks, and print out your lucky draw coupon and a set of 4 winning Lucky Numbers! If your slip has 4 Lucky Stars, or any permutation of your vehicle’s registration number, you win $100 and $500 Star Cash respectively. If you’re lucky enough, you might win $1,000 Star Cash, when your Lucky Numbers match up to those of your car.

Happenings

Count Your Lucky Stars With Caltex!

IN Caltex, Petrol, Fuel, Contest, Promotion

Stand a chance to drive off in a BMW 316i at any CaltexÂ® Station

Alas, BMW hasn’t made any mention of engine options or vehicle dynamics or anything at all to do with actual driving — the X4 is for now still officially a Concept, intended to show how the production version will look. Looking at the X3 though, engine options should be carried over directly. That means the turbocharged four and six cylinders as found in the xDrive20i, 28i, and 35i.

Happenings

First reveal of BMW X4

IN BMW, X4, SAC, Concept, Shanghai, SUV

BMW lifts the wraps off its new ‘SAC’ ahead of its premiere at the Shanghai motor show

As before, two engine options will be available, with a choice of 6-speed manual or 7-speed PDK gearboxes. The base Cayman has a 2.7-litre flat 6 with 275 bhp, while the S shares its 3.4-litre engine with the 991 Carrera, albeit in a different state of tune, producing 325 bhp. Thanks to stop-start and direct injection, Porsche claims a 15% improvement in fuel efficiency, bringing the figures to 7.9km/l and 8.4km/l for the base and S models.

Happenings

Arrival Of The New Cayman

IN Porsche, Cayman, S, PDK, Boxster, Coupe

Evolution is once again the name of the game at Porsche, with the launch of the 2nd-gen Cayman and Cayman S.

After passing through the checkpoints, the cars regrouped and blasted up the North-South Highway in unison. Sheldon and myself made a good effort to do our best in this challenge and kept throttle-discipline during the drive up, keeping in mind the only rule for the challenge; that the last car had to be no more than 5 minutes away from the first car, upon arrival at the end-point. Sheldon being the more experienced 'eco' driver, made use of both the cruise control and optimal rev count to keep the consumption as low as possible.

New

Don't Just Speed, Feed!

IN Volkswagen Group Singapore, Volkswagen, VW, TDI, DSG, Diesel, CEVS

To Malacca and back. Over two days. With less than a tank of diesel. We join Volkswagen on an epic trip up north to sample good food and great cars.

Mimicking the looks of Spengler's racing car, this special-edition model is available exclusively in Frozen Black metallic, while the carbon flaps and gurney, various dark chrome elements, matt black wheels and sections of the race car's livery also betray its close links with the triumphant BMW M3 DTM.

Happenings

Only 54 BMW M3 DTM Champion Editions To Be Made

IN BMW, M3, Competition, Munich Automobiles, DTM

BMW M GmbH celebrates their success in DTM with the unveiling of the BMW M3 DTM Champion Edition.

A range of tyres consisting of the Asymmetric 2, Directional 5, Efficient Grip and Assurance Fuel Max were tested in this program.

Happenings

Goodyear's Influencer Program Kicks Off!

IN Goodyear, Tyres, Technology, Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2

How do you get feedback from users of your products? Why you engage them of course! Goodyear did just that with this new program with drivers of a variety of cars.

Modified

Singapore's Best | Suzuki Swift Sport

IN Suzuki, Swift Sport, Singapore, Caltex, Competition

A favourite starter performance car among enthusiasts, this pocket rocket with huge tuning potential has capabilities beyond it's small size! We are looking for...

See that black bar perched atop the Xbox 360? That is the Kinect sensor which FM4 will be using for several features. It will allow you to “walk” around a car in a virtual showroom, crouch
down to look at the details, or open the doors and hood by reaching out with your hand. It also features head-tracking, which pans the in-car camera view based on where your head is pointing. The Kinect sensor also allows you to navigate the game’s menu by voice control and even play the game without having to use a controller (we didn't get to test this out but it sure sounds funny).

Happenings

The Xbox's Holiday Showcase

IN Microsoft, Xbox 360, Kinect, Forza Motorsport 4

No, we haven't turned into gaming freaks, but there is one game we had our eyes on.

Happenings

Autovox TechArt Party!

IN Porsche, 911, Turbo, Techart, Autovox

Local tuning specialists Autovox showcased a mouth-watering range of their gorgeous TECHART Porsches at an awesome party organised for the German Porsche tuner.

Happenings

To Infiniti, Not Beyond | Infiniti Experience 2011

IN Infiniti, Wearnes Automotive, M37, Infiniti Experience

It's not often one gets to drive a brand new car from a brand new, er... brand. Well that's what we did last week with Wearnes Automotive, distributors of the latest premium luxury marque, Infiniti.

Happenings

BMW Innovations Xpo

IN BMW, BMW Asia, Innovations xpo, Efficient dynamics, Event

Registered Burnpavement.com readers will get a chance to experience the technologies found in BMW cars at the BMW Innovations Xpo. They'll also get an exclusive preview of the new 1 Series.

Caltex is giving to one customer and seven of his/her friends a whole tanker of fuel. The key to winning what is equivalent to one year’s worth of fuel for each one of the eight members of the team is not left to chance. Caltex hands the control over to its customers with this promotion as teams are able to join a contest, track their performance and race all the way to the finishing line, hence, leaving nothing to chance.

Happenings

Caltex Wants To Give You A Tanker Of Petrol!

IN Chevron, Caltex, Caltex Singapore

Promotion not leaving winning to chance; hinges on customers driving their way to finishing line

I started off with the “wet circuit”, which turned out to be bone dry. Nevertheless, the course was designed with a fast lane switch, a couple of gates, a long sweeper and finally a slalom.

Happenings

The Audi A6 Media Event

IN Audi, A6, Media, Event, Changi

We burn some rubber in the seventh-generation A6 at Changi.

To be really honest, the Passat's looks are its downfall. I might be giving it away too early in this story, but the Passat is truly a great car to drive and own, I just wished it looked just as good. It is by no means ugly, but at the same time, it lacks a strong personality. It just looks bland - which I guess will work for those who don't want too much attention.

New

The Boss Says... | Volkswagen Passat

IN VW, Volkswagen, Passat, 1.8 TSI, Kids

Every now and then, we'll get some extra time with a car, that's when I'll get my chance to spend some time with it and give you my take. Last weekend, I took the wife and kids out in the Passat.

Happenings

Caltexâ„¢ & Burnpavement.com Launch The Caltexâ„¢ Techron Car Decal Program

IN Caltex, Chevron, Techron, Clean, Fuel

We got 10 hot cars, loaded them with an awesome fuel and filled the roads with 'bubbles'! You can feel the clean power of Caltexâ„¢ with Techron too! Read on to find out how.

Happenings

Up Close: Lamborghini's CEO and the Aventador

IN Aventador, LP, 700-4, Mr., Stephan, Winkelmann, New model

We have seen them in pictures and videos, but nothing will ever beat the real thing.

The winning entry will be decided based on the level of creativity and entertainment value of the video (to be determined by a panel of judges) and by the number of “likes” on the Facebook page. The contest will run from 23 July 2011 to 21 August 2011.

Happenings

Are You The Biggest WRC Fan In Singapore? You Might End Up At Rally Australia!

IN WRC, Fan, CitroÃ«n, Cycle & Carriage

Cycle & Carriage France (CCF) will be sending one lucky fan to Coffs Harbour to experience the thrills and excitement of the WRC!