Stand-out-from-the-crowd style can also be amazingly practical – and practicality surprisingly attractive. The MINI Clubvan Concept brings apparently conflicting profiles together into a single package, paving the way for an innovative vehicle concept without parallel in the premium small car segment. The MINI Clubman-based concept car, scheduled for its world premiere at the Geneva International Motor Show 2012, combines the driving fun for which MINI is renowned with increased load-carrying capability. The MINI experience will therefore find its way into new areas of life, the brand’s distinctive character gaining new popularity among target groups not previously on the MINI radar.

The closed-off load area behind the front seats and the opaque rear side windows of the new concept set it apart most strikingly from the MINI Clubman. The MINI Clubvan Concept uses its broader skill-set to open up new usage possibilities – both business and leisure. Where a business’s customers, product range and operating environment demand a particular style for its vehicles, a premium model can make the perfect delivery solution. For example, a car in the mould of the MINI Clubvan Concept would fit excellently into the fleet of a fashion designer, art gallery owner or event caterer. And its abilities as an all-rounder also tick the right boxes for a photographer with a stack of camera, tripod and lighting equipment to ferry around during the week – and bulky sports and leisure gear to pile on board at the weekend.

The MINI Clubvan Concept pulls off the trick of blending enhanced practicality and a well-judged lifestyle focus with natural ease. This ability is based on the impressive adaptability that goes to the heart of the MINI brand’s heritage. Calls for maximising the load capacity of the classic Mini began as early as 1960, just a year after the car’s birth. And they were soon heeded. With its 10-centimetre-longer wheelbase, separate load compartment and split rear doors, the Morris Mini Van was perfectly equipped for commercial use. It also provided the basis for the fully glazed, four-seat Morris Mini Traveller, one of the precursors of today’s successful MINI Clubman. And so, more than 50 years on, the MINI Clubvan Concept sees history repeating itself – albeit in a slightly different order.

Two seats, five doors, endless usage potential.

Limiting the car to two seats creates the capacity its owners will need on a day-to-day basis, as well as opening up a whole new world of customisation potential. The load compartment of the MINI Clubvan Concept embodies the car’s fresh and rigorous interpretation of the principle used in the classic Mini – of providing the maximum amount of interior space on the smallest possible footprint. The load area reaches from the split rear doors right up to the partition grille behind the two seats. The totally level floor makes full use of the interior’s depth, and that allows the concept car’s load capacity to exceed the maximum achieved by the MINI Clubman.

Six attachment loops recessed into the load compartment floor use elasticated straps to hold items of varying lengths, heights and widths in place – without the risk of them sliding around. Added to which, the partition grille, which is fixed securely to the car body, ensures that items stowed in the load compartment cannot find their way into the front seats, even under extremely heavy braking. The lower section of the partition is made from solid aluminium, while the upper section consists of a silver-coloured stainless steel honeycomb grating. The side walls and floor of the load compartment are trimmed in high-quality anthracite-coloured cloth. The anthracite roof liner, meanwhile, extends along the full length of the interior. This uniform colour scheme emphasises the pure-bred, practicality-oriented character of the MINI Clubvan Concept.

Like the MINI Clubman, the MINI Clubvan Concept is a five-door car with a twist. Two front doors for the driver and front passenger, two side-hinged doors at the rear and the rear-hinged Clubdoor on the right-hand side create comfortable access to the interior. The Clubdoor gives owners the option of loading or unloading smaller items from the side of the car as well as the rear.

The generous levels of space on board the concept car can be exploited in a variety of ways. Commercial users will be particularly pleased to discover the scope for configuring the load compartment to personal requirements. For example, tools and goods can be stored neatly and securely in made-to-measure drawers or shelving units. 12-volt plug sockets in the rear area of the load compartment provide additional practicality.

Exterior design: shields from prying eyes, cuts a distinctive figure.

Impressive practicality and the brand’s time-honoured style lend the MINI Clubvan Concept its unmistakable character. Sharing the exterior dimensions of the MINI Clubman and boasting cleverly increased storage capacity, the concept car is the first premium model in the small car-based van segment. The exterior appearance of the MINI Clubvan Concept marks it out immediately as a MINI – and therefore as a premium product. The function-led design modifications have no impact on the car’s proportions and hallmark MINI design language, but they do give customers the opportunity to combine the demands of commercial use with an appreciation of individual style.

The MINI Clubvan Concept comes with British Racing Green exterior paintwork, which extends to the roof, C-pillars and exterior mirror caps. As is usual for vehicles charged with transportation tasks, the rear side windows of the MINI Clubvan Concept are opaque. Polycarbonate sections – their outer surfaces painted in the car’s body colour – and heavily tinted glass for the rear doors make it difficult to see into the load compartment.

The unbroken paintwork along the car’s flanks offers extensive scope for individualisation, which the MINI Clubvan Concept highlights to eye-catching effect. The sealed side windows bear the logo of a sign design company based in the MINI’s native Great Britain. The hand-applied graphics lend the vehicle a personal look. Indeed, the ultra-versatile MINI carries both its cargo and the company’s promotional message with a uniquely stylish verve. The MINI Clubvan Concept presented in Geneva lends this form of customisation a piquant authenticity – on two fronts. The British company that has literally left its stamp on the MINI Clubvan Concept creates similar vehicle graphics for its customers. And the MINI Clubvan Concept showcases how these might look when applied to a MINI van.

A modern classic from Audi is making a comeback: The third-generation RS 4 Avant combines potent performance with a high level of everyday practicality. It’s 4.2-liter V8 produces 331 kW (450 hp); the seven-speed S tronic and quattro permanent all-wheel drive transfer that power to the road.

The Audi RS 4 Avant uses the same high-revving, normally aspirated V8 engine that powers the RS 5 Coupe. The 4,163 cc powerplant produces 331 kW (450 hp) at 8,250 rpm for a specific output of 108.1 hp per liter. Its maximum torque of 430 Nm (317.15 lb-ft) is available from 4,000 to 6,000 rpm. The responsive V8 with its red-painted cylinder head covers accelerates the RS 4 Avant from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 4.7 seconds on its way to a governed top speed of 250 km/h (155.34 mph). This can be increased to 280 km/h (173.98 mph) upon request.
Hand-built at Audi’s plant in Györ, Hungary, the 4.2 FSI engine combines its impressive power with exemplary efficiency, consuming on average less than 11 liters of fuel per 100 km (21.38 U.S. mpg).
With its high efficiency and long top gear, the standard seven-speed S tronic also contributes to the vehicle’s good fuel economy. Drivers can let the lightning-fast dual-clutch transmission shift automatically or change gears manually using the selector lever or the paddles on the steering wheel. For explosive starts, drivers can also activate Launch Control, which manages the engagement of the clutch at an optimum starting speed and minimum wheel slip.

Top traction: quattro drive with crown-gear center differential
Like every RS model from Audi, the RS 4 Avant comes standard with quattro permanent all-wheel drive. The heart of this system is the crown-gear center differential. This compact and lightweight component can vary the distribution of power between the front and rear axles immediately, smoothly and over a wide range, with up to 70 percent flowing to the front or as much as 85 percent to the rear. The default 40:60 ratio of the rear-biased configuration ensures sporty handling.

The self-locking crown-gear center differential works together with the torque vectoring system, which acts on all four wheels. If the load on the inside wheel is reduced too much while the car is being driven dynamically, the torque vectoring system brakes it slightly before unintended slip can occur. Audi offers the sport differential, which uses two superposition stages to actively distribute the power between the rear wheels, as an option.

Aluminum in abundance: the chassis
The chassis of the Audi RS 4 Avant is a very complex design. Many components of the five-link front suspension and the self-tracking trapezoidal-link rear suspension are made of aluminum. The new speed-dependent power steering is a highly efficient electromechanical system with a direct steering ratio for highly precise road feel. It helps the driver stay on course by making slight steering corrections when braking on surfaces with different amounts of grip.

The taut RS setup lowers the body by 20 millimeters (0.79 in) compared with the Audi A4 Avant. New, polished 19-inch, ten-spoke forged aluminum wheels shod with 265/35-series tires are standard. Audi also offers 20-inch wheels with 265/30-series tires. These are available in a new, polished, titanium-look, five-V-spoke design plus two additional variants in the five-arm rotor design.
Mounted behind the large wheels are internally vented wave disc brakes measuring 365 millimeters (14.37 in) in diameter up front. The steel friction rings with their wave-like outer contour are perforated and connected to the aluminum brake caps via pins. This concept reduces tensions, quickly dissipates heat and prevents transmission of temperature peaks. The new shape of the friction rings shaves a total of roughly three kilograms (6.61 lb) off the unsprung weight.

The calipers are painted high-gloss black; the front calipers have eight pistons each and sport RS logos. The ESP stabilization system has a Sport mode and can be fully deactivated. For the front axle, Audi offers the option of 380 millimeter (14.96 in) carbon fiber ceramic discs and six-piston calipers in anthracite gray. The ceramic brakes are especially lightweight, robust and durable.
The Audi drive select driving dynamics system is among the standard equipment for the RS 4 Avant. With it, the driver can switch between three modes – comfort, auto and dynamic – to determine the characteristics of the steering, the seven-speed S tronic and the throttle valve. Audi drive select can even vary the sound of the exhaust system, double-declutching when downshifting in dynamic mode. If the car is equipped with an Audi navigation system, a largely driver-configurable custom mode is also available.

In addition to the sport differential, another component available for Audi drive select is dynamic steering. It varies its steering ratio by nearly 100 percent depending on the speed driven and automatically countersteers slightly at the cornering limit for even more precise and stable handling. Another particularly dynamic damping technology available as an option from Audi is the sport suspension plus with dynamic ride control (DRC). Oil lines and a central valve connect diagonally opposed pairs of shock absorbers. During fast cornering, the system boosts the stabilization of the front outside wheel, for example.
The damping characteristic of the sport suspension plus is variable, with a choice of three settings available via Audi drive select.

Athletic: the exterior design
The exterior design flaunts the athletic character of the RS 4 Avant. The hexagonal single-frame grille is set in a frame with a matte aluminum-look finish; its honeycomb insert is finished in high-gloss anthracite. LED daytime running lights encircle the xenon plus units like a clasp in the wedge-shaped headlights. The air flows through large openings divided by crossbars and embedded in a distinctive bumper featuring a splitter edge like on a race car.

When viewed from the side, the chiseled side sill caps and flared wheel wells catch the eye. The flared rear side elements with sharp horizontal upper edges are a nod to that all-wheel drive pioneer from 1980, the Audi quattro. The side mirror housings and trim strips have a matte aluminum-look finish, and a discrete roof spoiler at the back ensures the necessary downforce.
The distinctive bumpers and the two oval tailpipe caps of the dual exhaust system dominate the rear end and are integrated into an upturned diffuser. Audi also offers a sport exhaust system with a voluminous sound and black caps. Elegant light strips adorn the LED rear lights.

The Audi RS 4 Avant is 20 millimeters (0.79 in) longer and 24 millimeters (0.94 in) wider than the A4 Avant, but 20 millimeters (0.79 in) lower. A choice of eight colors is available: one solid and one metallic finish, four pearl-effect colors and the two specially pigmented crystal-effect colors, Prism Silver and Panther Black. The extensively clad underbody integrates air vents for the seven-speed S tronic and the front brakes.

Sporty black: the interior
The interior of the RS 4 Avant is clad completely in black, with the exception of the roofliner, which is optionally available in Moon Silver. Chrome clasps subtly accentuate switches and control elements. Carbon inlays are standard, with brushed matte aluminum, Aluminum Race, black piano finish or a light stainless steel mesh available as options.

The standard heated front sport seats with integrated headrests are power adjustable and covered in a combination of black leather and Alcantara. Fine Nappa leather in either Black or Moon Silver accentuated with Stone Gray piping is optionally available. Other options include bucket seats or luxurious, climate-controlled deluxe seats with a ventilation function. The thick ring of the leather multifunction sport steering wheel is flattened at the bottom, and the shift paddles mounted on the back of it sport an aluminum-look finish.

The driver information system with color display includes an RS menu with a lap timer and an oil thermometer. Both it and the MMI monitor display a special RS welcome screen when the car is started.
The instrument cluster bezel shines with a piano finish, and the design of the selector knob of the seven-speed S tronic is unique to the RS. Typical of all RS vehicles, the door openers are two delicate bars. The pedals, the footrest, the air vents, the shift paddles on the steering wheel, the MMI buttons and other controls shine in an aluminum-look finish. Aluminum inserts adorn the door sill trims, which are accentuated with RS 4 badges.

Audi offers exclusive high-grade leather packages for all seating options, including a design package with honeycomb quilting for the RS 4 bucket seats. Rounding out the list of optional equipment is a broad range of state-of-the-art driver assistance and communication systems, including the Bluetooth online car phone that connects the RS 4 Avant with the Internet.

Options for the luggage compartment, which offers up to 1,430 liters (50.50 cu ft) of cargo space, include a rail system with load securing set and a power hatch.
Delivery of the Audi RS 4 Avant is scheduled to begin in fall 2012 at a base price of €76,600 in Germany.

What happens when a dream becomes reality? In the case of the Kia Trackster Concept unveiled at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show, car enthusiasts begin to salivate. Amid the driving rhythm of heavy-metal music, smoke and blinding lights, Kia Motors America (KMA) took the wraps off a performance-oriented three-door Soul coupé concept that hints at what could possibly be the future of Kia’s wildly successful Soul.

“The idea was to make the Trackster tough looking, like a bulldog,” said Tom Kearns, Chief Designer for KMA. “But the car had to be approachable as well. We wanted to base the car in reality so people instantly knew it was a Soul, but with a lot of attitude. It had to be a bold interpretation that would change people’s conceptions of what a sporty Kia could be.”

Mission accomplished

The bold attitude Kearns refers to starts with the eye-catching Whiteout and Inferno Orange paint scheme. While the white portrays complex layers and shades that contribute to dramatic depth, the orange is perfectly suited for racing. Kia’s signature grille features an air intake slit and is trimmed in lightweight carbon fibre. Smoothly integrated head lights sweep back suggestively over the sculpted front-wheel arches. The deeply recessed lenses echo the trapezoid themes found throughout the Kia Trackster Concept and are accented with compelling LEDs.

Most striking up front is the Trackster’s lower intake grille. Flanked by immense LED driving lights with billet aluminium surrounds, the Trackster is capable of devouring prodigious amounts of air to keep the engine running cool even under the most gruelling conditions. The lower valance, trimmed in carbon fibre and accented with Inferno Orange, rides just inches off the ground and lends to the car’s menacing stance.

The Kia Trackster Concept is not just another pretty face; it has a body to match. Sculpted surfaces seem to flow into each other naturally. The flanks are smooth but accented with well-defined wheel enclosures. Tucked beneath the Trackster’s hips are custom HRE-K1 monoblock billet performance wheels that were a joint effort of Kia’s California design team and HRE. The wheels are wrapped in 245/40-19-inch front and massive 285/35-19-inch rear Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 high-performance tyres.

The wheelbase on the concept is stretched to 101.2-inches, almost an inch longer than the production Soul. As expected on a car with the Trackster’s performance intentions, large 14-inch Brembo vented and cross-drilled disc brakes are embraced by six-piston callipers up front and 13.6-inch discs are paired with four-piston calipers at the rear.

Soul fans will instantly recognize the Trackster’s angled roof, accented with Inferno Orange. Closer inspection reveals this concept, while Soul inspired, is missing the production car’s rear doors. The front doors have been lengthened and adorned with smooth billet push-style handles which echo the racing-inspired billet fuel filler door. Carbon fibre lower side valances are also accented in Inferno Orange and incorporate functional rear-brake cooling ducts. The rear hatch incorporates a horizontal Inferno Orange “backpack” panel that accentuates the Kia Trackster Concept’s 75.5-inch width, which is more than 5-inches wider than a production Soul.

Performance on road and track

With performance as the top priority, the Trackster rolls into Chicago with a concept drivetrain sure to kick start any driving enthusiast’s heart. KMA’s design team dreamed big, but also kept their vision firmly rooted in reality. A 2.0-litre turbocharged in-line-four engine puts 250 horsepower to the road, a 66 per cent increase over that of the production Soul. Power is routed to all four wheels via an electronically controlled four-wheel-drive system. The short-throw six-speed manual transmission is capped with a stubby spherical shift lever. The Trackster rides on a lowered sport suspension tuned for track performance.

Opening the driver’s door reveals a light and airy interior highlighted with deeply bolstered Inferno Orange suede-covered racing seats. Granite Grey leather envelopes the interior landscape and imparts a feeling of strength and stability. Granite Grey suede wraps the sport steering wheel and door panels. Located deep within red-glowing nacelles, the primary instruments are large and easily readable. Auxiliary vehicle information such as oil temperature and battery voltage is found atop the dash panel while navigation, entertainment and ventilation controls are accessed through a large touch-screen panel located just above the engine Start/Stop push-button.

Behind the front seats is where Kia Trackster Concept takes a significant step away from its Soul stable mate. The rear seats have been removed and replaced with a fully integrated equipment tray and spare-tyre well. “We saw the Trackster as a performance-inspired concept that could spend time on the road and racetrack,” said Kearns. “The idea was to make the tools and equipment necessary to keep the car performing in top condition easily accessible.” Large panelled bins stow racing gear such as helmets, suits, gloves and tools while emergency supplies are housed within a separate and highly visible Inferno Orange container. A custom rear strut brace incorporates a quick-release handle to allow for fast wheel changes.

While there are no current plans to produce the Trackster, Kia’s California design centre team enthusiastically took on the project. “Concept cars are icing on the cake,” said Kearns. “They allow KMA’s design team to dream about what could be. Whether that dream becomes a reality or not is a separate question.”

Nissan has revealed the first details of a head-turning hatchback concept which previews the company’s next generation compact car, a mainstream B-segment contender to be sold alongside the Micra city car and innovative Juke B-segment crossover. Called Invitation, the dynamic concept – which will be unveiled at the 2012 Geneva International Motor Show – shows some of the innovation and excitement promised for the new model, which is due to be launched in Europe from 2013.

Design dynamism

Nissan Invitation Concept is an energetic design, bringing fresh style, innovation and excitement to the mainstream market. The clean fluidity of the silhouette hints at its dynamic potential and showcases class-leading aerodynamics for enhanced efficiency. The side of the car is dominated by a distinctive character line, known internally as the ‘Squash Line’, which adds a powerful dynamism to its profile with distinctive sculpted front and rear wings giving Nissan Invitation Concept a confident stance.

Inside, a refreshingly open cabin combines practicality and modernity with impressive levels of quality and purposeful technology features. François Bancon, Deputy Division General Manager of Product Strategy and Product Planning Division, said: “The name we have given to this concept is self-explanatory… the key benefit of this compact car is to be inviting.

“It is inviting thanks to its sensuous exterior design and generous and comfortable interior space, cleverly packaged within compact overall dimensions. It is Nissan’s Invitation to buyers in the compact hatchback segment.”

Class-leading performance and efficiency

Combining advanced engine technology, Nissan’s acclaimed lightweight platform and an aerodynamically efficient body mean Nissan Invitation Concept achieves class-leading levels of fuel efficiency and emissions. Nissan is aiming for an ultra-low CO2 emission target of under 100g/km for the best model and with all versions eligible to wear Nissan’s Pure Drive badge. At the same time, responsive agile handling will ensure that when it comes to driving dynamics, Invitation will compete with the top performers in the segment.

Advanced safety technology

But Nissan Invitation Concept is more than just a great looking car that’s fun and frugal to drive. The concept packs some of the most advanced technology ever seen in the B-segment, all of which is designed to ensure the car is as safe as possible. Among the features is Nissan’s advanced Around View Monitor (AVM) safety technology – seen for the first time on a B segment car – which makes reversing and parallel parking as stress-free as possible. In addition, Invitation also incorporates Nissan Safety Shield Technologies, which interact with the driving environment keeping the driver aware of what is happening around the car.

Conclusion

Nissan Invitation Concept’s combination of energetic exterior style, thoughtful interior, advanced safety features and class-leading emissions, fuel economy and dynamic performance demonstrates Nissan’s commitment to offering innovation and excitement to all car buyers, no matter what type of car they are looking to buy.

High-end refinement for a unique luxury sedan: STARTECH a BRABUS Group company, offers an exclusive sport and accessories program for the Jaguar XJ model series. The product lineup includes a strikingly styled aerodynamic-enhancement kit, custom-tailored 21-inch forged wheels and custom refinement options for the interior. The flat roofline that tapers off in the rear into a shape that approaches that of a fastback gives Jaguar a unique feature among luxury sedans that immediately catches the eye. The STARTECH designers have developed complementing body components that make the XJ even more unique. All aerodynamic-enhancement components are manufactured in OEM quality.
The nose of the four-door car receives some added profile with the STARTECH front attachment that is mounted to the production bumper. The component’s design with generously dimensioned air inlets lends the XJ a sportier appearance while its sophisticated shape reduces lift on the front axle. LED daytime running lights integrated into the side air inlets optimize active safety in traffic.
From the sides the English luxury sedan captivates with the STARTECH element for the front fenders. Its integrated air outlets lend the Jaguar XJ a sportier outfit. Design elements for the side sills attach in front of the rear wheel arches and complement the fender elements. An innovative STARTECH upgrade is also applied to the rear with a new fascia that has an integrated diffuser and two integrated ‘design’ panels with striking STARTECH looks. They are combined with two STARTECH stainless-steel rear mufflers.

A subtle rear spoiler lip on the trunk lid creates an optimal aerodynamic balance. To make full use of the available space in the wheel wells of the Jaguar XJ and to round out the STARTECH designer suit effectively, special version of the STARTECH Monostar J Diamond Edition wheels were developed. The three-piece forged wheels are mounted in sizes 9.0Jx21 and 10.5Jx21. They feature mirror-polished surfaces and titanium-look sections, and represent a perfect symbiosis of low weight and top quality. State-of-the-art forging technology makes these wheels especially light despite their high mechanical strength. The lower unsprung weight has positive effects on handling as do the wider high-performance tires in sizes 255/35 ZR 21 in front and 295/30 ZR 21 on the rear axle. The British luxury automobile also offers an excellent platform for exclusive interior refinement à la STARTECH. The interior designers offer a multitude of different leather and Alcantara colors, which are masterfully transformed by the company upholstery shop into custom interiors at the highest level of craftsmanship.
The show car features a black exterior and a contrasting STARTECH cream-colored all-leather interior made from especially soft and breathable Mastik leather. Two heated power business seats offer maximum comfort in the rear. A new center console with integrated storage compartments stylishly blends with the interior design. It is trimmed with the same leather used in the entire interior and features lights on either side that illuminate the floor in front of the individual rear seats.
Exquisite details are the precision-sewn seams on the dashboard and the sporty upholstery design of seats and leather flooring, which is stitched with unique precision using more than 5,000 meters of thread.
An absolute highlight that impressively demonstrates the quality of the STARTECH refinement is the elaborate wood trim for the sedan. Black, high-gloss polished piano wood was meticulously adorned by hand with ship-veneer-type inlays.

The STARTECH electronics specialists have developed a state-of-the-art multimedia system centered on an Apple iPad to give owners of a Jaguar XJ the opportunity to be always online or enjoy entertainment in the rear compartment. Electrically deployed tables, adapted perfectly to the back of the front seats with leather-trimmed consoles, feature custom-tailored recesses for the tablet computer and the Bluetooth keyboard from Apple.
A 20 MBit/s GSM modem with an antenna that has been integrated into the vehicle hidden from sight provides a high-speed internet connection via EDGE, HSDPA or HSPA+ protocols. Several passengers can communicate online at any time using a WLAN network available in and around the car.
STARTECH also offers a wide range of fancy accessories such as high-gloss polished stainless-steel scuff plates with backlit STARTECH logo and high-quality color-coordinated floor mats with leather borders. STARTECH aluminum pedals add notably sporty highlights.

Audi is crowning its successful A1 model series with an exclusive top-of-the-line model. The dynamic A1 quattro, limited to just 333 units, moves to the head of the compact class. Its two-liter, turbocharged engine produces 188 kW (256 hp) and 350 Nm (258.15 lb-ft) of torque, which is delivered to all four wheels. The Audi A1 quattro sprints from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 5.7 seconds and has a top speed of 245 km/h (152.24 mph).

Porsche 911 GT3 RSR American Le Mans Series 2012

American Le Mans Series: Flying Lizard driver line-up confirmed for 2012
The winning Flying Lizard Motorsports squad will again run two Porsche 911 GT3 RSR in the 2012 American Le Mans Series. For the fourth consecutive season, works drivers Joerg Bergmeister and Patrick Long will share the cockpit of the number 45 race car. Team owner Seth Neiman shares driving duties with factory pilot Marco Holzer.

Intercontinental Le Mans Cup: Proton Competition wins six-hour race
Zhuhai in China hosted the final round of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup on 12 November. In the LM GTE Am class, works driver Richard Lietz planted the 911 GT3 RSR of Proton Competition on the second grid spot and drove to victory with team owner Christian Ried as well as Gianluca Roda.

Japanese Super GT: Second place for Porsche 911 GT3 R in riveting final
The duel between Tomonobu Fujii in the Porsche 911 GT3 R of the Hankook KTR squad and a BMW was literally decided at the finish line, when the Porsche pilots were taken by surprise by the slipstreaming BMW in race one (12 November) and beaten by nine-hundredths of a second. Race two saw Masami Kageyama again yield second in the same Porsche after a gripping fight. In the final GT 300 class standings, Fujii, Kageyama and their team occupied third place.

Rallying: Björn Waldegård finally claims Porsche win at the Safari
At the East African Safari Classic (20-28 November) in Kenya – arguably the toughest rally for historic vehicles – rally legend Björn Waldegård won in a Porsche 911. Waldegård was co-driven by his son Mathias at the marathon sprint over 2,000 kilometres in the 911. With this result, the 68-year-old finally clinched the victory that had narrowly escaped him as Porsche works driver at the ‘real’ Safari in the seventies: In 1974 he finished second, in 1978 fourth. The Swede became famous after clinching two wins with Porsche at the Monte Carlo Rally (1969, 1970).

Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup: René Rast defends his championship title
With five wins this season, Germany’s René Rast managed to retain his championship title for another year. The VELTINS Lechner Racing pilot snatched his last victory at the final round on the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi (13 November), after finishing second at the penultimate race the previous day behind Britain’s Nick Tandy. His Austrian teammate Norbert Siedler took home vice championship honours. VELTINS Lechner Racing claimed the team title, with Kévin Estre from France crowned Rookie of the Year.

Carrera Cup Australia: Craig Baird unstoppable – championship title number three
After the last race weekend of the Carrera Cup Australia in Sydney (2/4 December), Craig Baird travelled home as champion once again. Sixth place at the penultimate round in the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup fielded by Alliance Group Racing put Baird out of reach of his closest rival Jonny Reid. The 41-year-old New Zealand born professional racer has already won the Carrera Cup Australia series in 2006 and 2008. Moreover, he has won the GT3 Cup Challenge New Zealand eight times. The sheer number of championship titles makes the Gold Coast resident the most successful race driver of Porsche one-make cup series.

Carrera Cup Great Britain: Daniel Lloyd wins race scholarship
Facing competition from three other candidates, 19-year-old Daniel Lloyd came out on top after a rigorous selection process at Silverstone to win an £80,000 Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain Scholarship. The scholarship contributes to his campaign budget for all twenty races of the 2012 Carrera Cup Great Britain.

GT3 Cup Challenge Australia: Roger Lago defends his championship title
The key to Roger Lago defending his title was consistency: From 18 races, the Australian finished 13 times in the top three and achieved three victories. The fight for the cup, however, went down to the wire between Lago and Jeff Bobik. Bobik won the last two races in Phillip Island on the first weekend in November, but concluded the season 13 points shy (402:389) of his compatriot.

GT3 Cup Challenge Brasil: Constantino Junior clinches maiden title
On a rainy ninth and final race weekend of the year at Interlagos (9/10 December), Constantino Junior convincingly secured his first championship title in the top ‘Cup Class’ category ahead of his rival Clemente Lunardi. The races of the weekend went to Ricardo Baptista and Tom Valle. In the “Challenge Class”, Sylvio de Barros already clinched overall victory two weeks ago at the event run as support to the Brazilian Grand Prix.

GT3 Cup Challenge Canada: two new courses, nine races instead of six
The GT3 Cup Challenge Canada heads into its second season at full revs. The calendar has grown from six to nine races, contested over five weekends. As a premiere, the makes cup series will run alongside its American equivalent on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve as part of the Formula 1 Grand Prix (8/10 June) as well as the storied Circuit Mont Tremblant in Quebec.

GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East: Four races, four different winners
The GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East is tougher than ever before. From the four races contested so far came four different winners: Clemens Schmid from Austria, Prince Abdulaziz Al Faisal from Saudi Arabia, his compatriot Bandar Alesayi and Ahmad Al Harthy from Oman. Holding a narrow margin, Al Faisal travels to races five and six on the Yas Marina Circuit (Abu Dhabi, 15/16 December) as points’ leader, which also marks the halfway point in the season.