FIA World Rally Championship leader Kalle Rovanperä will rekindle some very special memories as he returns to Rally Estonia this week 14 - 17 July. Rovanperä leads the championship by 65 points having won four of the last five rallies as the season approaches its second half on Estonia’s blisteringly quick gravel roads around Estonia's second city, Tartu. Estonia feels like a second home to … [Read more...]
Hirst and Pryce edging closer to crowns
Hirst edges closer to Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship title after the Nicky Grist Stages rally. He won the Interclub series event for the first time this year after already taking the opening three rounds of the series. Hirst and co-driver Declan Dear (above) were once again on unbeatable form, scoring maximum points on the Builth Wells-based event in their Pirelli-shod Delta Salvage … [Read more...]
Rallying included in motorsport ‘Olympics’
World-class rallying will join the FIA Motorsport Games for the first time from 26 to 30 October. Rally2, Rally4 and Historic are confirmed among the 17 competition categories to be contested across tarmac stages around the Circuit Paul Ricard region, between Marseille and Toulon, France. First held in 2019, the FIA Motorsport Games is a unique global competition which places nations at the … [Read more...]
Nonsensical new 20mph speed limit criticised
A decision to make all urban roads across Wales 20mph has been branded “nonsensical and deeply disappointing” by Natasha Asghar MS. Senedd members voted on the highly controversial scheme with the Welsh Conservatives voting against, and Plaid Cymru supporting Labour by giving it their backing. Natasha Asghar MS (above) – who represents South East Wales and is the Shadow Minister for Transport … [Read more...]
Knowing how long an EV battery will last before it’s made
Testing the lifespan of new electric vehicle battery designs could be made four-times quicker by a new streamlined process, researchers at the University of Michigan (UM) have claimed and reported by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers. The new ‘optimisation framework’ developed by the team could also reduce the cost of assessments for new designs, they said. "The goal is to design a better … [Read more...]
Tradelines 13 July
Arval UK has more than doubled the number of electric vehicles (EVs) on its UK fleet in the 12 months to the end of June. There has been a 102% growth from 11,225 to 22,630 units, meaning that EVs now represent 12.2% of its total fleet – up from 6.4% at the same time last year and the total figure breaks down into a 98% increase in the number of electric cars to 21,639 and a 249% rise in electric … [Read more...]
Newslines 12 July
The Honda Civic was launched 50 years ago today. It has sold 27.5m around the world and the 11thgeneration order books have opened today from £29,595 and deliveries commence in September. Ferry and motoring trips to Europe are expected to escalate this summer as airports and airlines slash flights. The cost of flying and queues with the possibility of last minute cancellations after airports … [Read more...]
EV interest growing, but there’s range anxiety
A quarter (26%) of car hirers would like to hire an electric car to test one out, and a fifth (20%) would like to ‘do their bit’ for the environment (17% men and 23% women). However the survey carried out by Opinium, on behalf of iCarhireinsurance.com, a leading provider of stand-alone car hire excess insurance, did find some barriers to hiring an electric car even when drivers said they … [Read more...]
Seven in ten stolen cars never recovered
Seven in ten stolen cars are not now recovered with sophisticated gangs stealing them and breaking for parts and a lot of money, according to the latest study. One of the most popular to pinch because of easily bypassed security system is the Range Rover and its also one of the most expensive worth a lot in stripped out parts sold on the black market to back-street mechanics and owners. That’s … [Read more...]
20mph speed limits in Wales
The Welsh Senedd will today vote on the Restricted Roads Order, which would impose reduced speed limits in built-up areas across the whole of Wales from 30mph to 20mph. Commenting, Welsh Shadow Minister for Transport, Natasha Ashgar MS, said, “The Welsh Conservatives are not against introducing 20mph speed limits outside schools, playgrounds, places of worship and high streets, but a blanket … [Read more...]