Hansen Motorsport has today announced that Sparco, the Italian auto part and accessory company, will continue to supply the driver equipment, team kit, and teamwear for Hansen World RX Team and #YellowSquad.
Sparco will also support Timmy Hansen as the Swede faces his exciting new challenge in the E1 Series, by providing technical racing equipment from the Full-Efficiency line, which is globally the first and only product line aimed at the principles of “zero waste”.
The long-standing partnership between Hansen Motorsport and Sparco has been built on shared values and decades of joint experience in motorsport. This partnership supports innovation through constant collaboration with the drivers, whose valuable feedback gained from their skills on track continues to back research and development towards the highest level of performance.
Kenneth Hansen, Team Founder of Hansen World RX Team, said: “All of us at Hansen Motorsport are proud of our work as a family company. Having dedicated partners like Sparco, who share our commitment and passion, plays a crucial part in our legacy as a team. Together with Sparco we’ll continue to push what’s possible and pick apart every detail as we look to continue innovating and improving both on and off the track.”
Diego Lamura, Sparco Chief Marketing Officer and Global Partnerships, said: “Sparco is proud to partner with Hansen Motorsport. This long-term partnership gives us the opportunity to continue and deepen our commitment to innovation and sustainability, while benefiting from the world-class expertise of the drivers, who play a key role for us at Sparco in our ongoing research and development activities.”
Multiple World Championship winning outfit Hansen Motorsport will take on the 2024 FIA World Rallycross Championship – which sees the introduction of the ‘Battle of the Technologies’ – with Sparco branding at select locations on their cars.
The most successful rallycross team in history will be looking to build on last season’s performance, this time against new competition in the form of sustainably-fuelled combustion counterparts.
Led by 14-time European Rallycross champion Kenneth Hansen and European S1400 champion Susann Hansen, the squad is adding lessons learned from last year to an intense off-season ahead of its 2024 title challenge with the added support of Sparco.
The 2024 FIA World RX campaign kicks off in Höljes, Sweden (6-7 July), before heading to Hungary where the drivers will take on Nyirád’s ‘Red Cauldron’, which steps up to World Championship for the first time (27-28 July). Two familiar World RX venues follow in Mettet, Belgium (17-18 August) and Montalegre in Portugal (7-8 September). An exciting season finale is in store as the championship heads oversees to Australia (30 November-1 December).
Bridgend based multi award-winning commercial vehicle leasing broker Hawkstone Commercials acquires community use vehicle for a men’s mental health community interest company (CIC).
Lads & Dads Men’s Mental Wellbeing C.I.C has been gifted the use of a community outreach vehicle to continue its fight against the increasing challenges of men’s mental health in our communities. Launched in 2019, Lads & Dads focuses on walking, talking, thinking, and supporting. With over 2,000 members and 12 committee members.
Oliver Lewis, Co-director of Hawkstone Commercials said, “The work that Lads & Dads have done in recent years has been exceptional. They have helped so many individuals combat the struggles which we all face in life and make a real positive impact in our local community. For Lads & Dads to continue providing their support, it is vital they have the right tools available to them. As a business, we have invested heavily in supporting our own staff and their mental health, so it’s fantastic to be able to expand our reach to the wider community and play a very small part in the ongoing cause. I would like to thank the committee at Lads & Dads for allowing us the opportunity to support them on their journey”.
Lads and Dads have already reached thousands of people and is recommended to patients by doctors’ surgeries, local crisis teams and other community engagement groups. The group also have their own football team which plays against other mental health awareness teams across South Wales.
Rob Lester (chairman of Lads & Dads) said – “To watch our group grow over the past four years has been nothing short of amazing, however we feel that there is so much more to do. We rely heavily on our sponsors and supporters to keep our group running efficiently and to be able to offer the care our members need. This comes in the form of organised events and even counselling sessions. We are sincerely grateful for the support Hawkstone Commercials have shown us in recent months in the form of sponsorship, but for them to acquire a vehicle for us is just incredible. On behalf of the committee, and our 2000 members I would like to thank the Directors Oliver and Paul as well as their team for this generous donation. We are now able to put this van to work and help more of members and the wider community with the epidemic which is mental health”.
Over the last 18 months, Hawkstone Commercials has achieved some truly phenomenal goals. However, this is something that Hawkstone cherishes above all. As an organisation, their goal has been to give back to the community. This gesture will save and changes lives, something that is utterly priceless.
Ineos, the British chemicals and automotive company, has been forced to take drastic action after buyers began to hawk their Grenadier 4×4 vehicle at mammoth resale prices amid production delays.
Those seeking to buy a brand-new Grenadier straight from the manufacturer will have to wait a staggering 12 months for delivery – and stump up £65,000 for the privilege.
And that has given rise to an opportunity for shrewd operators to thrive…
Who are Ineos?
Founded by billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Ineos is a British company that owns a huge slice of the global chemicals industry.
They have since diversified into other areas including automotive retail, while the brand also lends its name to a cycling team that contests the annual Grand Tours.
Ineos hasn’t quite had as much success as its predecessor, Team Sky, who won the Tour de France five times between 2012 and 2018. The cycling odds give Ineos riders an outside chance to win the gruelling French race, with more familiar names like Jonas Vingegaard instead favoured in the Tour de France betting.
It’s the firm’s Grenadier 4×4, which has been championed by the likes of Jeremy Clarkson, that has generated most of the column inches for the company of late. Considered an alternative to Land Rover and similar-sized vehicles, popularity has boomed – at a cost to would-be buyers.
So some have bitten the bullet and instead purchased a ‘nearly new’ model from a reseller, who have bought up stock from independent dealers with low delivery mileage.
An Ineos spokesperson has confirmed that they will limit the supply of new Grenadiers to retailers that adopt a similar resale strategy, with orders already cancelled where it was found that the buyer had the sole aim of immediately listing their vehicle for sale upon delivery for a handsome mark-up.
It’s another source of frustration for motorists, with the sale price of used cars increasing by an average of £4,000 since 2020.
Who is Jim Ratcliffe?
Billionaires don’t have to worry about such things as second-hand cars – they don’t come much richer in the UK than Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Having made his money via his Ineos chemicals firm and its many subsidiaries, Ratcliffe has diversified his portfolio into automotive and sport.
As well as the Ineos Grenadiers cycling team, he is the majority shareholder in the French football club Nice, although he is yet to experience the kind of success there that his investment – bringing in the likes of Kasper Schmeichel and Ross Barkley – might have warranted.
Jim Ratcliffe has big plans for Manchester United, and the British billionaire isn't backing down in the face of Qatar's money https://t.co/odvBhydAs0
So Ratcliffe has a new target in his crosshairs: Manchester United. Although his is a sporting interest given that he grew up supporting the Old Trafford club, a shrewd businessman like Ratcliffe will know that United, as a publicly listed and globally popular concern, also offer the potential for huge profits. Indeed, they posted revenue of around £540 million in 2022 alone.
Whether he can bring them more success on the pitch remains to be seen, but Ratcliffe’s returns in petrochemicals and automobiles suggest he knows how to get the very best out of his investments.
Image Credit: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
As we celebrate International Women’s Day, motorsport isn’t traditionally known for it’s diversity. However, Formula E is keen to change that and is showcasing its newly released sustainability report, which highlights all the work they are doing around e-mobility and equity in sport and STEM.
Aligned to the FIA Girls on Track initiative that Formula E has been delivering alongside the FIA, Formula E is dedicated to raising not only the profile of female roles within motor sport, but their diversity and routes of entry. Formula E employs a diverse number of women in various technical roles from across the all-electric championship, from General Counsel and Engineers to Tyre and Logistics Specialists. Also, the FIA Girls on Track programme has hosted nearly 2,000 girls at track, with further Season 9 activations at Formula E races in São Paulo and Jakarta
Here, for IWD 2023, Formula E are highlighting the achievements of women already playing a key role in the success of the sport:
Leading Women in ABB FIA Formula E Racing Teams
Maserati MSG Racing – Anastasia Fowle, General Counsel
For over four years, Anastasia Fowle has been Maserati MSG Racing’s General Counsel, heading up all things legal for the Monegasque vice-world Champions including; driver contracts, complex partnership agreements and intellectual and property rights. In addition to her role with the team, and her partnership role at Shoosmiths LLP, Anastasia is also a director of the Formula 1 Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (“GPDA”). A true female trailblazer in motorsport, not only is Anastasia the first female director of the GPDA, she’s also the first non-F1 driver to hold this crucial role providing business, legal and strategic advice for the organisation.
DS Penske – Juliana Neto, Physiotherapist
Juliana is the physiotherapist to the DS PENSKE Formula E Team, having started her career in motor sport back in 2017. With experience in Formula E, Formula 3, DTM, WTCR, GT Championships and many 24-Hour endurance races, she’s responsible for ensuring the drivers can perform at their optimum levels when racing and training. Juliana first began working in sport back in 2010 with the Portuguese Athletic Federation and the Portuguese Olympic Committee, with further experience in environments like the UEFA Champions League and many international athletics championships. Since 2018, she’s also been responsible for the Bioperformance Center in the High Performance Center for Motor Sport in Madrid.
Jaguar TCS Racing – Lais Campelo S. F. Lima, Software and Data Engineer
Growing up in Brazil, Lais had a curiosity for the world of motorsport, inspired by drivers such as Senna, Barrichello, Massa and Fittipaldi, but never thought she would go on to have a career in the industry. Lais pursued her interests in technology and science, achieving a Masters in Physics and joining the Jaguar Land Rover graduate scheme. Now, in a role described as challenging and rewarding, Lais is immersed in motorsport as a Software and Data Engineer at Jaguar TCS Racing, delivering software applications, processing and analysing data, and extracting the best from the drivers and the cars.
NEOM McLaren Formula E Team – Georgina Yeomans, Communications Executive
Georgina Yeomans is the Communications Executive for NEOM McLaren Electric Racing, which spans both its Formula E and Extreme E teams. Her role spans a variety of responsibilities, including writing press releases, managing driver media and marking interviews and filming. Georgina has been gaining experience in the motorsport industry since the age of 16, with a background in journalism and communications. She first got experience in the industry through Girls on Track UK (previously Dare to be Different), which gave her the contacts and confidence to follow her passion. This began with work experience at Autosport, which led to communications work with Torque PR.
Envision Racing – Michelle Creighton, Composite Technician
Michelle has a critical role within the team, as she ensures all the bodywork on both chassis’ is as pristine as possible. Whenever there is any damage to the floors or bodywork, it is her responsibility to fix the damaged area as neatly and as lightly as possible, keeping the car always looking perfect! Despite not studying motorsport whilst at college, Michelle enjoyed the sport as a hobby with her Dad before going on to have a vast career in motorsport, working in WRC Mini, LMP, GT series and Formula One in the Composites Department. Michelle joined the team last November, which means there is now a female in every department at Envision Racing!
NIO 333 Racing – Marta de Pfaff Ganduxer, Tyre Performance Engineer
Marta studied MSc Motorsport Engineering at Oxford Brookes University, where she had the opportunity to work with the PBM Ducati Racing Team in the British Superbikes Championship. She has worked with various racing teams, including NIO 333 FE Team, playing a vital role in optimizing tyre performance. Marta is a strong advocate for gender equality in motorsports and encourages young girls interested in the industry to work hard and stay motivated. Marta’s expertise extends beyond motorsports, also having worked as an EV Powertrain Expert Engineer and has provided support for the development of electric vehicles for companies such as Honda, Toyota, and BMW.
Mahindra Racing – Andrea Ackroyd, Lead Performance Engineer
Andrea, the team’s Lead Performance Engineer, joined Mahindra Racing alongside Alexander Sims in Season 7. For two years she was his Performance Engineer, before she was promoted to her current role at the start of Season 9. With a love of physics and maths, Andrea studied engineering at university and was quickly attracted to the motorsport-related modules. She was fascinated by the hard work that goes on within a race team to achieve a competitive edge, and decided to pursue it as her career. To young women wanting a career in motorsport, she says: Don’t listen to the naysayers, keep your head held high, and stay curious.
Avalanche Andretti Formula E – Marissa Andretti, Vice President, Andretti Autosport and Managing Director, Andretti technologies
Marissa Andretti grew up around the sport, spending time and learning from her second family – a racing team. Andretti officially joined the family business in 2015 as a Client Relations Representative in Andretti Autosport’s INDYCAR program. With an interest in racing operations, Andretti assists in project management for the team’s branding-related operations whilst also serving as a Vice President within Andretti Autosport, overseeing the team’s philanthropic initiatives via The Michael Andretti Foundation. Additionally, Andretti has taken on the role of Managing Director for Andretti Technologies [ATEC], where she assists in developing strategy and project fruition, centralising departments across the team.
Leading Women in ABB FIA Formula E Partners
It isn’t only teams where women are carving out a successful career in Motorsport – Formula E also highlights some of the women playing a key role within partnerships of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship:
Allianz – Claudia Spagl, Global Partnerships Manager
Claudia Spagl is the Global Partnerships Manager at Allianz, and responsible for its Formula E partnership. Having started her career at the company’s communications agency where she was already workings on different motorsports topics and being responsible for the Extreme E partnership of Allianz,
she was really proud to then lead the Formula E account. Besides her passion for motorsports, the synergies between Allianz and Formula E is what makes her so excited about the partnership. As one of the world’s largest automotive insurers with a strong sustainability agenda, driving the transformation to e-mobility and supporting the dream of “clean air” is at the centre of her work.
ABB – Stephanie Wyss, Supplier Governance & Communication for ABB Formula E Partnership
Stefanie started her career at ABB as an assistant in the branding team in 2017. She always had a passion for cars and motorsport, and therefore leapt at the opportunity to be part of the ABB Formula E Partnership team, taking on the role of Supplier Governance & Communication in October 2019. Her dedication, attitude and organisational skills meant she soon took on responsibility of managing all merchandise, teamwear and logistics, playing a vital role in the success of the customer engagement program which is central to ABB’s title partnership with the Championship.
DHL – Manuela Gianni, Head of DHL Motorsport
Manuela Gianni’s experience in logistics has been driven by her passion for foreign languages and travel. She fluently speaks four languages and has been driven to the international atmosphere and opportunities that only a multinational company like DHL can offer. In her current role as Head of DHL Motorsport Italy she oversees the local Motorsport Team and manages the contract with Formula E Operations, for which DHL is founding and logistics partner since the launch of the Formula E Championship, heading a Team of professionals which are instrumental for delivering the Championship with strategic targets towards a sustainable logistics module.
Julius Baer – Selin Jost, Project Manager
Selin joined Julius Baer’s sponsorship team as a project manager in 2022, where she supports and focuses on sustainability and innovation-related partnerships, including Formula E, of which Julius Baer is the Global Founding Partner. Selin’s passion for sustainability began when working for the company’s sustainability team for three years where she co-led the development of the group’s climate strategy, before joining the partnerships teams. After graduating from the University of St. Gallen in 2017 with a degree in Management, Organization Studies, and Cultural Theory she enrolled on Julius Baer’s ‘graduate programme’, working on various assignments in Switzerland, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Hankook – Sujin Jang, Chief Engineer of Formula E Tire Development Project
As a dynamic individual who thrives on challenges and pushing boundaries, Sujin was always there whenever Hankook needed breakthroughs throughout her 18 years with the company. From new product launches, OE tires for high-end carmakers, to the start of motorsports, Sujin was there taking Hankook tires to a new level. Sujin was put in charge of compound development for Formula E tires and was the first female compound developer in the Hankook Tire Research & Development Center. Seeing the compounds Sujin developed in action and earning results through race performance always keeps her striving for more.
Formula E and the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship continues to champion diversity and equality in motorsport – and we hope next year’s list of women leading the field off track will be even longer!
About Formula E and the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship:
As the world’s first all-electric FIA World Championship and the only sport certified Net Zero Carbon since inception (achieved in line with the 2020 definition), the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship brings dramatic racing to the heart of some of the world’s most iconic cities providing an elite motorsport platform for the world’s leading automotive manufacturers to accelerate electric vehicle innovation
The Formula E network of teams, manufacturers, partners, broadcasters, and host cities are united by a passion for the sport and belief in its potential to accelerate sustainable human progress and create a better future for people and planet.
Every driver who has driven a car knows how important and helpful car insurance is. But at the same time, they also get to know how expensive auto insurance can be when buying it. When something is essential, necessary, and costly, one should always try to find ways to save money.
It is shocking that while car insurance is such a ubiquitous thing, many people do not know how they can save money on car insurance premium rates. Regarding car insurance, you need to balance costs with coverage. This means that both low cost and great coverage are of equal importance.
So are you among the ones paying a lot in car insurance premiums? Well, this article is for you. Here are some fantastic tips to help you reduce car insurance premium rates without compromising your coverage. Let’s get started.
Compare and Select the Best
Before you take any steps to reduce your car insurance premium rates, you need to be in a suitable space. If you get a costly car insurance policy offering little coverage, you are overpaying for it.
So the first thing to do here is to get the right policy. How to do that? By comparing all the different car insurance companies and what they are offering. Finding the best auto insurer is easier than you think. All you need to do is search for it specifically for your state.
For example, if you live in Nevada, search for the best Nevada car insurance and compare their policies, coverage, reviews, features, and of course, the price. Make sure that price is not the only thing you are looking for since coverage quality is just as important.
Once you have ensured that you got the best car insurance policy, we can move to fine-tuning to reduce your auto insurance premium rates. Let’s start with the fastest and most effective one.
Insurance Deductibles
Almost every car insurance policy comes with a deductible. Insurance policies have a coverage limit, the maximum amount the insurer would pay when you claim the policy.
But to avoid unnecessary claims, insurers set a deductible amount. This is a small amount of money (compared to the coverage limit) that the policyholder needs to pay before the rest of the coverage amount is produced by the insurer.
So if you have a policy and claim it for car repairs that cost around $5,000, and the deductible is set to $1,000, you’ll have to pay this amount, and then the insurer would pay $4,000.
You can reduce or increase the deductible amount directly affecting your insurance premium rates. If your deductibles are low (meaning you’ll pay less from your pocket in an insurance claim), your insurance premium rates will be high.
It is a door that swings both ways. If your deductibles are high, your insurance premium rates will come down. But if you make an insurance claim, you’ll have to pay a lot from your pockets.
You cannot claim your insurance if the cost of repairs is below your deductible amount. So increase your deductibles, and your premium rates will go down. But make sure you drive carefully as you’ll have to pay a lot if you get into an accident.
Take Defensive Driving Course
Many driving courses improve your standing with the insurer. Car insurance companies sometimes have their driving course if you want to qualify for discounts or low rates.
Contact your insurer and ask if they have any course like this or if taking a defensive driving course would be accepted. If they do buy it, take the system, and you’ll get some sweet discounts on your insurance premium rates.
Consider Pay-Per-Mile Insurance
If recently your driving has reduced, thanks to the pandemic, you can consider switching to pay-per-mile or usage-based insurance. Usage-based insurance can be much cheaper and better if your monthly mileage is low.
If you drive occasionally and your monthly mileage is below 800 miles, then switch to usage-based car insurance (compare prices here as well and choose the most affordable one).
A base rate is first calculated by looking at your driving record and other factors. This base rate is multiplied by your monthly mileage to calculate your premium rates. The best thing is that if you do not drive that much, it can save hundreds of dollars in insurance bills.
Clean Driving Record
If you want to save money on any auto insurance policy, having a clean driving record is imperative. A bad driving record with traffic violations, rash driving, etc., can hike your insurance rates and premium prices.
So avoid breaking traffic rules, drive under the speed limit, and avoid driving under the influence as it is one of the most impactful negative factors in your driving record. A clean driving record will keep your insurance premium rates low.
Insurance Claims
It might seem a little counterintuitive but making an insurance claim is only sometimes the smart move. For minor accidents that require minor repairs, it is better to pay from your own pockets than make an insurance claim.
In case you want to make an insurance claim, you’ll have to pay the deductible first. An insurance claim will increase your car insurance rates in the future, no matter which insurer you choose. This increases your insurance premium rates too.
So the best thing to do here (if you want to reduce car insurance premium rates) would be to avoid insurance claims when you can pay for the repairs yourself or get an accident forgiveness add-on so that your insurance rates stay low even after you get in an accident.
Conclusion
With all these steps, your insurance premium rates will go down. Do note that if your rates are inflated due to poor driving records, or traffic violations/accidents, reducing the premium rates can be very difficult and time-consuming.
The best option, in this case, would be to switch to a new company that offers the lowest prices. You’ll still pay a lot compared to others with good driving records, but at least it won’t be as expensive as it is now.
When you arrange car insurance, your insurer may ask you for your car’s registration certificate, but what is it and why is it important? Comparison site mustard.co.uk explains it all.
What is a vehicle registration?
When you buy a car, you’ll be given a vehicle registration document, called a V5C (sometimes called the vehicle logbook).
The V5C registers the car with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). In other words, it lets them know your car exists. The V5C itself, includes details about your car, including its make, model, number plate, and crucially, who the registered keeper is.
Does the V5C show proof of ownership?
No, the V5C doesn’t show who owns the car, it only sets out who the registered keeper is. Confusingly, they’re not the same.
The car’s owner is the person who bought the car, or the person who the car was given to. The registered keeper is the person responsible for tax, MOT and car insurance. A good example of the difference is company cars. Usually, the car is owned by the business but the registered keeper will typically be the person driving the car on a regular basis.
When would I need to update my V5C?
You should update your V5C registration certificate if any of the details are wrong or change. For example, if you move house or if you make any modifications to the car, like change its colour, the engine or alter the chassis.
Depending on what’s changed, you might need to supply proof of that change to the DVLA, for instance, a receipt for the work done. In some cases, the car will need to be inspected but the DVLA will let you know if it does.
Generally speaking, your car will only need inspecting if there’s been a significant alteration. This could include modifications to the wheel plan, converting a van to a campervan or changing the vehicle identification number (VIN).
How do I update my vehicle registration document?
The DVLA has made it fairly simple to update your car’s V5C. All you’ll need to do is fill out section one of the newer style V5C (the one with multicoloured sections), or section seven in older versions.
After that, check to see if you need to supply evidence, then send everything to the DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BA. The DVLA will then contact you to confirm those changes or let you know if your car needs inspecting. The whole process should take around four weeks at most. If you don’t hear back after six weeks, you should contact the DVLA.
How do I update just my address on my V5C
If you only need to change your address, you can do this online. The service is free but you must be listed as the car’s registered keeper to use it.
If you need to change your name, you can fill in section three of your V5C if you have the multicoloured version. In older style V5Cs, you should fill in section six. You’ll then need to send it off to the DVLA. If you’ve changed your name by deed poll, you’ll also need to include proof of this.
It’s really important to let the DVLA know about a name or address change. If you don’t, you could end up with a £1,000 fine.
Buy car insurance with a Cheapest Price Guarantee*
Making sure your V5C is correct and up-to-date is just one bit of admin you’ll need to do as a car owner. Another, is sorting out your car insurance, which can often end up being one of your biggest expenses.
The good news is that at comparison site mustard.co.uk, quotes come with a Cheapest Price Guarantee* so you can be confident about getting great value car cover. You can start your quote online right now or speak to an expert on 0330 022 8812.
Getac has worked closely with the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) to digitise key race day operations, including safety and compliance checks, team communications, and vehicle diagnostics, in the latest phase of its ongoing strategic technology partnership.
Getac has collaborated with the BTCC for over three years and is now its official technology partner. For the 2022 season, Getac has supplied the BTCC with its Electronic Vehicle Inspection Solution, which includes the UX10 fully rugged tablets and Getac Vehicle Inspection Software, to digitise the key scrutineering processes that take place each race. Doing so has significantly improved transparency between teams and officials, whilst crucially shortening operational and decision making times.
Effective digitisation central to BTCC’s future plans
Prior to partnering with Getac, BTCC staff primarily relied on paper forms and consumer grade IT devices, which created major challenges before, during and after each race weekend. Not only were paper forms time consuming to complete and difficult to archive correctly, but the relative fragility and poor battery life of consumer grade devices often led to unanticipated issues and delays. As the BTCC moved from traditional petrol-powered engines to petrol/electric hybridization for the 2022 season, it knew a fully digitised approach to race day officiating and analysis was the only way to ensure smooth, efficient and seamless operations going forward.
Digitally transforming race operations
Getac’s solution offers outstanding performance and reliability in every aspect of operations, for both officials and race teams. For race officials, the Getac UX10 makes data entry quick and easy. Its fully rugged design also means it can be used in race control or trackside, for everything from lap timing and regulation compliance to video reviews and post-race car inspections, with complete peace of mind.
The BTCC technical team use Getac’s Electronic Vehicle Inspection Solution to check the safety and compliance of competing vehicles digitally, with the data immediately made available to all relevant parties. Once each race is over, officials can then look at key data trends from the weekend and use the information to improve team and driver experiences at future events.
Race teams can also use Getac’s Electronic Vehicle Inspection Solution to capture and review racing data in real-time, take/transmit photos and video evidence, and pull diagnostic information directly from the cars pre/post-race for performance analysis purposes. Additionally, teams can monitor engine and tyre performance, using data provided by BTCC partners Cosworth and Goodyear, directly on their Getac devices.
The extensive connectivity options also mean teams can get accurate timing and race information from wherever they are around the track, rather than having to continuously return to their technical trucks or garage during each race.
“Our partnership with Getac over the past three years has helped us realise that paper-based processes no longer have a place in fast-paced race environments,” says Alan Gow, Chief Executive of the BTCC. “Thanks to Getac’s digital solution, we can bring real-time control, visibility and efficiency to every aspect of our race day operations, ensuring audiences everywhere get the fantastic spectacle they have come to expect.”
“In competitive motorsports, the smallest detail can be the difference between winning and losing,” says Russell Younghusband, Global Automotive Director, Getac. “We’re proud to help the BTCC achieve its digital transformation goals through this partnership, putting a wealth of information at the fingertips of both race officials and teams alike, and helping deliver incredibly exciting racing at every BTCC venue throughout the season.”
Colin Turkington (GBR) WSR BMW
The next BTCC race weekend will take place at Brands Hatch GP, from 08-09 October 2022. For more information, please visit www.btcc.net
Aber Falls Distillery in Abergwyngregyn has partnered with a local team from North Wales for the Veterans Banger Rally 2022.
The Aber Falls Veterans Banger Rally team will be taking on an epic 1500-mile rally spanning Europe, starting at Dover on 12 September and finishing on 17 September in Gibraltar, raising money along the way for Prevent Breast Cancer UK and SSAFA – The Armed Forces Charity.
The team features Peter Wild – from Dwygyfylchi in North Wales – and Derek Ball who are both retired police officers and car enthusiasts, excited to take on the challenge in their 20-year-old, Aber Falls liveried Mercedes Benz.
The rally is an organised event, bringing together Veterans from all areas of the Armed Forces that share a common goal of driving a car, costing no more than £500 via a 1500-mile challenge around Europe, in a bid to raise funds for charity.
Catrin Butler, Events Manager from Aber Falls Distillery, said: “It’s great to be able to support Peter and Derek on this exciting and fun challenge to raise money for charities close to their hearts. We’ll be keeping up to date with how the team – and our car – get on. It is a unique event and something we’re very excited to be a part of. We wish them the best of luck!”
Peter Wild, from Dwygyfylchi and team member of Aber Falls Veterans Banger Rally team, added: “It is a once in a lifetime event – not only is it an opportunity to raise money for two fantastic charities, but for myself and Derek to see other parts of Europe and enjoy the journey along the way. As we finalise preparation for the rally, if a local garage in the Conwy area would like to help with checking over the car, completing a service and oil change before we depart, we would be very grateful.”
VisionTrack is the official video telematics provider to the British Truck Racing Championship (BTRC) for the second year running. The company has teamed up with Truck Sport UK to deliver an advanced vehicle camera solution for 20 race trucks that will compete in the BTRC’s Division One and Division Two. It will support race activity management throughout the seven-round event, as well as provide high-quality footage for broadcast and media opportunities.
“We have been incredibly impressed with the quality and reliability of the video telematics solution, so we are delighted to be continuing our partnership with VisionTrack this year,” explains Steve Thomas at Truck Sport UK. “Last season, the vehicle camera system proved to be invaluable to the race officials, while providing a new dimension to our broadcast and promotional activities.”
VisionTrack has upgraded the video telematics solution for this year’s event, using VT3000 AI dashcams combined with a rear-view camera. Race officials will now be able to access a substream feed that can download footage within seconds to speed-up in-race investigations. This will work alongside livestream video from each truck that assists with the management of on/off track race compliance, while HD video will also be available during and post-race for livestream broadcasting, media clips and a TV highlights programme.
Mark Turner, Sporting Manager of British Automobile Racing Club Limited commented: “As the motorsport industry continues to evolve, it is paramount that officials are provided with the information needed to make the right decisions. The VisionTrack solution puts our officials in complete control of what footage they want and allows them to quickly assess on track incidents. The combination of forward and rear facing cameras for all the trucks competing in the BRTC ensures they get the best angles in a timeframe that allows decisions to be made in the heat of the race day.”
Dean Leonard, Head of Technical Service Delivery at VisionTrack said: “We are excited to be the official video telematics provider for this year’s British Truck Racing Championship. Our advanced solution is again helping Truck Sport UK to maintain the highest levels of race safety, while providing action-packed content that will attract new fans to this exciting motorsport. I am looking forward to sitting with the judicial team throughout the competition to ensure they can access the video and data they require.”
VisionTrack is a leading global provider of AI video telematics and connected fleet data. The company’s advanced vehicle camera solutions are underpinned by a device-agnostic, multi-award-winning IoT platform, Autonomise.ai. VisionTrack’s unique approach is helping tackle some of the most complex challenges faced by the fleet, transport and insurance sectors, providing the operational insight, business intelligence and enriched vehicle data needed to make strategic mobility decisions.
Motor Connect’s ambition to ‘champion’ independents with its collaborative approach to online used vehicle sales is proving a big hit with UK dealers, with the Northwich-based business reporting that it’s signed up almost 30 dealers to its Approved Dealer Network within just three-months of launch.
The digital-first business is also well on its way to achieving its goal of listing more than 5,000 used vehicles on its new industry leading digital platform by the end of 2021.
Motor Connect unveiled its collaborative online retail strategy at the end of July this year, offering dealers nationwide the opportunity to significantly extend their online reach without any distance selling. Dealers can advertise free of charge to a UK-wide in-market audience via Motor Connect’s online platform. Motor Connect then takes ownership of any vehicles sold via the site – handling the whole customer experience, from vehicle preparation to delivery to their door. Finance, part exchange and warranties can also be arranged – for a completely hassle free process.
Working closely with independent dealers across the UK in this way, this innovative business model is supporting used car businesses by providing an additional route to market as more and more consumers turn to online channels to research and shop for a new car.
Now with 30 dealer partners currently on board and 2,500 used vehicles listed for sale, Motor Connect is aiming to drive this rapid growth forward by more than doubling its partners by 2022.
To support its ambitious plans to scale up its digital-first used car offering, the business has already recruited four new members to its team including additional telephone advisers and two apprentices.
Steve Corwood, owner of Motor Connect, said: “We’re front and centre of the used car sector’s digital transformation, as more and more people turn to online to research and purchase a used car. Everything we’ve created is hitting the mark – with high demand from customers and a sensible option for dealers to reduce their stock turnover but maintain high volumes of sales.
“Whilst there is still very much a role for traditional showrooms and face-to-face sales, we are offering independent dealers an additional route to market – with sophisticated online listings completely free of charge and taking the hassle out of the vehicle handover process.
“We’re using our experience in both online and offline sales, matched with technology, to enable dealers to do more deals without any distance selling. We’ve reduced our stock turnover to an average of just 23 days.
“Working collaboratively in this way helps to support all dealers in the used car sector as they face tough trading conditions against large car supermarkets and main dealers. Longer term it gives them access to an ever-expanding online audience, helping to bolster their wider marketing efforts.
“We have ambitious growth plans and we’re in strong position to really drive this digital-first sales model forward. With four new hires already, we will be continuing to expand our team further over the coming months – offering a fantastic opportunity for anyone want to join a forward-thinking business.”
