Goodyear’s Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 has been awarded the Gold Medal in the latest Motor magazine tyre test, cementing its position as Australia’s ultimate performance road tyre. The accolade also gives Goodyear a hat-trick of wins in the authoritative test with the original Eagle F1 Asymmetric earning the award the two previous years.

With testing undertaken at Sydney’s Eastern Creek Raceway, V8 Supercar driver, stunt driver and driving instructor, Warren Luff, was behind the wheel of a MY12 Mitsubishi Evolution X MR, putting nine 245/40R18 size high performance road tyres through their paces. The tyres were tested in four separate challenges – Figure Eight Road Circuit, Wet Skidpan, Dry Slalom and Emergency Braking – with scores averaged across three attempts for each.

With Australian weather conditions providing a constant and varied challenge for drivers and tyres alike, performance in the Wet Skidpan is always a key performance indicator. Here the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 was the clear leader in what was the only wet test, with its new silica tread compound and race inspired resin creating better adhesion on the wet surfaces. The Goodyear tyre again clocked the outright fastest average time on the Figure Eight Road Circuit, highlighting the credentials of its new improved tread pattern which allows for a more stable outer tread to aid cornering. The Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 was also equal first place in the Dry Slalom.

Overall, after taking out three of the four categories, MOTOR awarded the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 the Gold Medal, commenting that, “its solid performance across all categories shows its broad capabilities to cope with a diverse range of situations.”

For further information:

http://asymmetric2.goodyear-micro.co.nz/

Only a few weeks away from this year’s NZCC/Ellerslie Intermarque Concours – which is planned to take place on Sunday, 12th February.

Starting with the extremely popular Meguiar’s/MG/Mustang Fun Run on Saturday. 11th February, the show itself is expected to draw out over 600 classic cars from all over New Zealand – many of them competing for team and individual honours in the Intermarque Concours. For more information, visit: www.concours.org.nz

NZ Classic Car will, once again, be taking over the Newmarket Room at Ellerslie and we’re planning a huge display of mouth-watering classic cars – visitors will also get a chance to look at Don Packwood’s fantastic motor sport paintings, plus the chance to buy exclusive prints.

So, safe motoring over the holiday period – and we’ll catch up with you a Ellerslie!

After two and a half years of development Donkervoort Automobielen in Lelystad – in close collaboration with Audi Quattro GmbH – recently presented the next generation of open sports cars: the Donkervoort GTO.

With a capacity of 253 to 298kW and torque of 450Nm from about 1600rom. And all this with a total weight of around 700kg. Without a doubt one of the fastest sports cars on the European market andn, with the first private preview for Donkervoort Ambassadors from all over Europe, received so enthusiastically that within a few hours approximately half of the first 25 specially designed GTOs were sold.

The GTO is clearly a size larger than its predecessors, the closed GT and the open D8 270RS. About 35 centimetres longer and 15 centimetres wider, to be exact. Necessary to accommodate the massive, longitudinally placed, five-cylinder 253kW 2.5 TFSI Audi motor and at the same time realise an astonishing balance in the design. The GTO is therefore a brand-new designed car. Only sharing 5% of the parts with the D8 270RS and about 30% with the much more recent GT. A milestone in the 34-year history of Donkervoort.

The first 25 specially designed GTOs are also equipped with a 2.5 TFSI motor, which is 30kg lighter than the standard Audi variant. The dashboard in this design of the GTO is equipped with a special race module switch, which can increase the capacity from 253 to 298kW at once. Connected to this is another Donkervoort novelty: the first car from Lelystad that has ‘traction control’ on board. Only for when it is raining of course!

Pproduction of the new car starts in 2012, whereby it is expected that the first specially designed GTOs will be delivered in the summer. The first ‘regular’ versions are expected on the European roads starting in 2013. The price of the new GTO is between € 100,000 and € 150,000 excluding taxes.

This version of the iconic ’60s Batmobile comes pre-painted, is easy to assemble and is loaded with Bat-features such as a fully detailed interior and bat-wheel spinners. Just for good measure, the kit also comes with pre-painted Batman and Robin figurines. Thanks to the good guys at Toymod – distributors of Polar Lights models – simply answer the following question to be into win this terrific model:

In what country were the final VW Beetles assembled?

To enter this competition, click here.
Competition closes on January 28, 2012.

Our featured models from SPR this month are from Spark’s new range of 1:43 pit accessories – a set of six generic Le Mans pit crew in white overalls (item #43AC004), and six Team Peugeot crew from Le Mans 2009 (item #43AC008). These sets of figurines include tyre changers, jack man, fuel crew, mechanics, and pit board men. When displayed with one of Spark’s 1.43 race cars they would create a great diorama. And like all Spark models the quality of the pit crew is impressive, with detailed resin bodies, extremely fine metal accessories, and superb paint and decals.

Go into the draw to win the Spark brand 1:43 Team Peugeot pit crew by answering the following question.
The Team Peugeot pit figurines featured here crewed on the #9 Le Mans Peugeot 908 HDi FAP. In what position did this car finish in the 24 hour race?

To enter this competition, click here.
Competition closes on January 28, 2012.
More info: www.spr.co.nz