Ari Vatanen’s father died in a car crash while driving his family to a funeral when the future world rally champion was eight years old. The vehicle was new and although seatbelts were optional he had fitted them only the day before but was not using one. He had, it transpired, also got the day […]
According to Alfred Neubauer, Mercedes’ most famous racing team manager of all time, the Swiss Grand Prix was one of the fastest racing tracks in 1930’s Europe. It is on the Bremgarten circuit, near Berne, in Switzerland, that the supercharged V12’s of the Mercedes-Benz W154 Silver Arrows made history on 21 August 1938. After 50 […]
Nearly 70 years ago to the day, on April 10, 1950, the great champion Tazio Nuvolari ended his racing career behind the wheel of the Abarth 204A, the first model constructed by Carlo Abarth. The time trial ran from the Sicilian capital of Palermo up Monte Pellegrino: a steep, evocative climb, featuring multiple hairpin bends […]
When is an American car also a Japanese car? When it’s a Dodge Stealth, the fruit of an ongoing, and highly successful collaboration between Mitsubishi and Chrysler that saw both brands emerge guns blazing into the supercar-heavy early 90s. Unlike same-era efforts such as the Mitsubishi Eclipse/Eagle Talon twins, however, the Stealth did not spring […]
Mario Andretti, champion of the world of Formula 1 and four times of the IndyCar – three under the name USAC and another under CART -, has included Fernando Alonso in his list of best drivers in history. The American, when asked by a fan, was clear that the Asturian should have a place among […]
There are many words one can associate Subaru with, but police is not generally one of them. The Japanese carmaker likes to do its thing in civilian clothing, both on the road and on the track, and less so as part of the force. The are come countries (not many), that use a variety of Subaru […]
Through the 1960s and into the 1970s, a breed of independent Italian car maker, all of whom wanting to become the next Ferrari, created limited-production sports and grand touring cars. Not having the full resources from which to construct their cars from the ground up, they were able to take advantage of several resources available […]
Morgan is 111 years old, and for more than half of its existence it’s made a vehicle on a version of the same chassis. That chassis is an old steel design that has underpinned the Morgan Plus 4 since 1950, and now it’s finally headed out to pasture as Morgan has developed a lighter aluminum chassis for […]
Benz & Cie. delivered the first bus with a combustion engine on 12 March 1895 Premiere in the scheduled regular service connecting Siegen, Netphen and Deuz . Combustion engine revolutionised the segment once dominated by horse-drawn carriages and steam buses Today: Daimler Buses with battery-electric bus models and fuel cell drive technology Since […]
Fifty years ago this week A.J. Foyt won a USAC midget race, which wasn’t that newsworthy except for the fact it was in his hometown. In the Astrodome. In front of more than 20,000 people. And he wasn’t declared the winner until the next day. “Hell yes I remember. It was a lot of fun,” […]
A new automotive adventure ‘down under’ from Bespoke Rallies Living up to its reputation for delivering innovative classic motoring experiences, Bespoke Rallies is running a 25-day 5,763km adventure in Tasmania and Victoria state, Australia, this November. Named after the now extinct marsupial that roamed Tasmania as recently as the 1930s, Tiger Tasmania is for pre-1985 […]
Legendary Italian manufacturer reaches 110 year milestone this summer The special ‘Greatest Hits’ racecard at this summer’s 30th birthday Silverstone Classic (31 July-2 August) is completed with a pair of super-evocative Alfa Romeo 110th Anniversary Celebration Races. Scheduled as a crowd-pleasing double-header on both Saturday and Sunday, these two showdowns are set to attract unprecedented […]
Pott, Green & Clark take HRCR honours Historic Racing South Africa converged on the Red Star raceway near Delmas on Saturday for a crack at that ambidextrous circuit in an anti-clock wise direction for its second round races on Saturday, where HRCR members were treated to a great day’s racing from the series’ travelling Historic […]
Wing Commander Andy Green’s 1997 land speed record may well remain intact. It is just a shame that the person who wants to break it is Green himself. The man who clocked 763mph almost a quarter of a century ago is the man in the cockpit again for UK-based Bloodhound LSR, an ambitious project that aims to […]
Goodwood has announced that one of greatest all-round racing drivers of all time, Mario Andretti, is to be celebrated at the 2020 Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard, taking place from 9-12 July. Mario, who celebrates his 80th birthday today, was the original inspiration behind this year’s Festival of Speed theme: “The Maestros – Motorsport’s […]
HRSA heads to the mieliefields Fresh from all the excitement of the recent Festival of Speed, Historic Racing South Africa and the Historic City will set up camp for a proper weekend of classic car racing at the Red Star Raceway in the middle of the mielies near Delmas Saturday 7 March. The second round […]
The South African National Formula Vee series celebrates its 55th season of close racing in 2020. The series started on 15 May 1965 with three Formula Vee’s lining up on the Kyalami grid. Since then the series has carried National Championship status for the majority of its 55 year existence, with champions like Dave Charlton, […]
The remarkable career of John Surtees CBE, one of the greatest names in Motorsport – two wheels and four – will be celebrated at this year’s Classic TT presented by Bennetts. John Surtees, the only man to ever win two and four wheel World Championships, will be recognised with a celebration lap featuring some of […]
With no snow on this stage, it was tricky going for the FIA World Rally Championship crews on Rally Sweden’s SS4. Changeable grip levels made for nervous and cautious driving from even the bravest crews, but for two crews concentrating on their own driving. This played favourably into the hands of Toyota Gazoo Racing as […]
In mid-December of 1922, Citroën had what it called “the audacity” to attempt to drive motorized vehicles across the Sahara. The drive south across the African desert to Timbuktu (English spelling of the historic stop on the medieval trading route) covered nearly 1,970 miles and 21 days. On February 5 during the Retromobile collector car […]
The British National Motor Museum’s Land Speed Record breaking 1920 Sunbeam 350hp has been fitted with a replacement gearbox to match its rebuilt engine, decades after losing its original gearbox. The ongoing project to restore and preserve Sir Malcolm Campbell’s iconic machine, which set a 150mph World Land Speed Record nearly a century ago, has […]
Historic season starts in style Historic Racing South Africa’s 2020 championship season got off to a fine start at Zwartkops’ Passion for Speed festival on Saturday, where HRSA members at the new Historic City were treated to a splendid day at the races with close Universal Pre-‘81 Saloon Car and Sports & GT track action […]
The 23-day ‘Incredible India Rally’ organised by a heritage trust will culminate in the City of Lakes, Udaipur, on March 10 where the participants, comprising nearly 15 global vintage car aficionados and s Seeking to promote India as a global heritage motoring tourism destination, a nearly 4,000 km expedition of iconic vintage cars will kick off from […]
Cracking racing and a cool new HRSA initiative This weekend sees Historic Racing South Africa’s 2020 championships kicking off in spectacular style when the Pre-1990 Sports and GTs, Pre-’81 Historic Saloons and the HRCR Pursuit series join the ever-popular Passion for Speed races at Zwartkops Saturday 1 February. Not only does each class offer a […]
Most Rallystar readers will know about the war of words between Steve Wyndham and MSA. Lots have been said and claimed by Steve and MSA’s first reply came from their CEO a short input from the current Chairman after they obtained an interim court Interdict silencing Wyndham. Quite a number of Wyndham supporters and […]
The 1980s were a time of excess, and brought with them the rise of BMW and Mercedes-Benz as the cars of choice to project success.It should come as no surprise, then, that German automakers and excess overlapped more than once. This V-16-powered 1987 BMW 750iL is one of the best examples of the intersection between […]
On March 17, Belgian Formula 1 and endurance racing legend Jacky Ickx will join an elite group of non-Americans inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHFA). “The MSHFA is unique in that it honors every form of motorsports, (but) for foreign nationals, only achievements in North America are considered,” explained MSHFA President […]
GSM Flamingo V8 Bob van Niekerk, Willie Meissner and Verster de Wit were the most innovative and creative engineers who had vision with a purpose and not slow on trends in the world of sports and GT cars. It all started with the GSM Darts in the mid-fifties. They created one of the most effective, […]
A salute to our Champions At Zwartkops on the 1st February 2020 we can all experience what South Africans achieved in the early 1960’s. South Africa ruled in modifying and developing Alfa twin cam engines which in many instances beat the engines of the day (Climax Borgword) and then proceeded to build cars which challenged the […]
Believe it or not, there was once a bygone era when diversification was a rule rather than an exception for drivers. In 1968, Vic Elford wasn’t just making up the numbers at the Monte Carlo rally, but racing his Porsche 911 with so much talent – and with the help of expert co-driver David […]
Spectacular examples of both the original and modern tribute are coming up for auction. Lancia has produced no shortage of legends over the course of its long history, but few can hold a candle to the iconic Stratos. So long is the shadow that it cast that it’s since been revived in a modern tribute that’s been decades […]
BY GRAHAM KOZAK Packing a V4, independent front suspension and monocoque construction, the Lambda was a revolution. One of the most gratifying aspects of the classic car hobby is, at least for me, how my appreciation for different marques and eras only broadens with time. Experience and exposure enable you to pick up on nuances […]
Planned press conference could be damaging to the company and its execs. When former Renault-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn, under house arrest and staring down two financial-crimes trials in Japan, bolted for Lebanon, he left in his wake dozens of unanswered questions. Investigators are looking into matters such as who exactly planned the Dec. 30 escape, who […]
Sébastien Loeb is something of a force of nature. He has won nine World Championship titles and, to date, 79 WRC victories, the most recent the Rallye de Catalunya in 2018. What is most remarkable about driver from Alsace is that he didn’t win his first World Championship until he was 30. Loeb’s climb to […]
The Incredible Sixties Pre 1966/68 Le Mans/ Sebring Sports & GT cars The Castrol SA TT always brings the unexpected, and in 45 minutes give us an insight as what it was like in the mid-1960s when Ford ruled the world. The Tourist Trophy will feature no less than three/ four of the spectacular Daytona […]
The fourth running of the Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) Classic Sebring 12 Hour officially began with opening practice Thursday at Sebring International Raceway where the first race winners of the season-ending HSR Sebring Historics were also crowned after a rapid-fire run of three-straight races brought the afternoon to a competitive close. Saturday’s and Sunday’s HSR […]
The 66th annual running of the prestigous Macau Grand Prix has seen the new-generation of FIA Formula 3 cars tackle the legendary Guia circuit as lap records tumbled from the outset. Practice One Marcus Armstrong set record-breaking pace for Prema Theodore Racing in the opening session for this years Macau Grand Prix. The Kiwi set an unofficial lap record of the Guia Circuit […]
… but it’s all about slowing down Bloodhound team thankful for unprecedented support from the Northern Cape Government and local work force preparing desert ‘racetrack’ The Bloodhound Land Speed Record (LSR) team today revealed the car aiming to claim a new World Land Speed Record next year, seen for the first time in completed desert spec […]
South Africa is once again the centre piece for an attempt on the world land speed record. It is not the first time. The activities at Haksteekpan where the British Bloodhound vehicle will have a trial run takes us back to 1929 when the famous Sir Malcolm Campbell and his Bluebird car attemped to break […]
Italian two-time world champion Miki Biasion marks two significant anniversaries at this year’s event, the first being the start of his career, which came in a Group 1 Opel Kadett GTE in 1979. Ten years later, Biasion secured the first of those two titles with Lancia. He will drive a 037 this week. Biasion will be […]