The BAC Mono set to appear at several stages of the 2016 Gumball 3000 rally.

• The BAC Mono set to appear at several stages of the 2016 Gumball 3000 rally
• The bespoke British supercar will be at the flag drop at the events start in Dublin
• The Mono will also feature in the Regent Street parade as the celebrity-studded supercar event stops off in London
• Gumball 3000 founder Maximillion Cooper will be taking the wheel of the Mono as the rally stops off at the Hungaroring in Hungary
• BAC is donating a driving experience day in a Mono at a UK track to be auctioned for charity at the Gumball 3000 Foundation dinner on the final night of this year’s event

The BAC Mono will be playing a starring role in this year’s running of the Gumball 3000 with the single-seater supercar appearing at several key points of the celebrity-studded rally. Fans will have plenty of opportunities to see the BAC Mono up close, but only a select few will be taking to the wheel, including the founder of Gumball 3000, Maximillion Cooper.

The Mono will be making its very first appearance on the opening day of the 2016 Gumball 3000 event, and will be taking part in the start-line parade when the flag drops in Dublin on 1 May. The team will be around to meet media and fans, before heading off for London.

The car’s next appearance will be the following day, when it takes part in a parade on Regent Street in the heart of London. The Mono will be lining up alongside other supercars, and fans will be able to get up close and see the car moving on the capital’s streets. The car appearing in London will be one of the very latest, bespoke examples of the Mono, which will show off the ways in which the car can be tailored to each customer’s desires.

From then, the car heads to Budapest, where the Gumball 3000 is due to take part in a track day on 5 May at the famous Hungaroring. None other than the founder of Gumball 3000, Maximillion Cooper, will drive the official BAC Mono around the circuit. The car Maximillion will be driving will be joined on the track by another car, owned by regular Gumball 3000 participant Josh Cartu, making it a rare opportunity to see two examples of the world’s most bespoke supercar alongside one another.

BAC will also be involved in the final act of this year’s Gumball 3000, with the company offering up a money-can’t-buy opportunity for the charity auction that takes place at the Gumball 3000 Foundation dinner on 7 May in Budapest.

The winner of the auction will be able to enjoy a track day at a UK circuit of their choice. They will spend the day with official BAC test driver Oliver Webb, who will give them coaching to help them get to grips with the car, before they head out on track. The winning bidder will also take home on-board video and photo footage from their drive as a memento of the day. The lot will also include a tour around the BAC factory, and the company’s home city of Liverpool.

BAC co-founder and director of product development, Neill Briggs, said: “The BAC Mono is at the pinnacle of the supercar world, and we are delighted to have been invited to be present at several key points of this year’s Gumball 3000. We look forward to meeting the fans and showing off the car at the start line in Dublin and again in London as part of the supercar parade.

“We’re also pleased to be able to support the Gumball 3000 Foundation and hope to help raise lots of money for charity and give someone an unforgettable experience in a Mono in the process.”

Gumball 3000 founder Maximillion Cooper said: “I’m a big supporter of British brands and BAC is one of the coolest automotive companies out there. The Mono supercar looks stunning and I can’t wait to have a go!

“It is also fantastic that BAC have donated such an exclusive experience for the Gumball 3000 Foundation, and I'm confident it will prove really popular come the charity auction, especially after the car has been on show throughout Gumball 3000 this year.”

In keeping with the visual drama of Gumball 3000 the BAC Mono will be wearing a special wrap for the event, showing off the Gumball 3000 logo.

McLaren previews this weekend's F1 race at the Hungaroring in Hungary.

Grand Prix Preview Hungary 2015 Facts & Stats: Hungaroring The Circuit After the fast sweeps of Silverstone, Formula 1 heads to the slowest permanent circuit on the calendar next weekend. The Hungaroring is tortuously twisting and narrow, and has few fast corners. To be competitive, a car needs to have aerodynamic stability and good traction. The Hungaroring was the first circuit in the world to be built specifically for F1. It was completed in just nine months ahead of its first grand prix in August 1986 and it’s been a permanent fixture ever since. Only six tracks on this year’s schedule have staged more grands prix than this 4.381km/2.722-mile track. With an average speed of just 190km/h (118mph), the Hungaroring rewards low-speed traction. However, grip levels are poor early in the weekend because the asphalt is usually very dusty and slippery. This makes life very difficult for the drivers during Friday’s practice sessions, until some rubber has been laid down on the racing line. As you’d expect on a track where overtaking is difficult, the start of the race is crucial. It’s advantageous to line up on the clean side of the grid, and the run to the first corner is 610 metres – the fourth longest of the year – so there’s a lot of jostling for position on the approach to Turn One. The combination of old and abrasive asphalt, and high track temperatures, provides a hostile working environment for the tyres. For this reason, Pirelli are taking their Soft (Option) and Medium (Prime) tyre compounds to the race. It’s the first time this combination has been used since the Bahrain Grand Prix in April. McLaren is the most successful constructor at the Hungaroring. The team has won there 11 times, which is more than one-third of the races staged at the track. It was also in Hungary that the team’s 2015 race drivers scored their maiden F1 wins, Fernando Alonso in 2003 and Jenson Button in 2006. Vital Statistics Hungarian Grand Prix 24th - 26th July Hungaroring Race distance 70 laps (full world championship points awarded after 75% distance/53 laps) Start time 1400 (local) / 1200 (GMT) Circuit length 4.381km/2.722 miles 2014 winner Daniel Ricciardo 2014 pole Nico Rosberg 1m22.715s (190.674km/h) 2014 Fastest lap Nico Rosberg 1m25.724s (183.981km/h) First race 1986 Don't put the kettle on... The Hungaroring has a short pitlane; it takes only 16s to complete a pitstop and that opens up a lot of strategy options. For the last two years the race has been won with three pitstops, so stay tuned on laps 9-12; 30-33 and 50-55. Full throttle 55 per cent Fuel consumption 2.1kg per lap, which is high Brakewear Medium. There’s a significant braking event into Turn 1, where deceleration exceeds 5g, but only 14 percent of the lap is spent on the brakes Weather Usually, it’s very warm at this time of year – 25-30 degrees. It’s unusual to see rain, but that’s what happened last year (and in 2011 and ’06). DRS zones Two – on the approach to Turn One and, again, on the approach to Turn Two Top speed 305km/h on the approach to Turn One Safety Car likelihood Low. There were two Safety Car periods last year, but, statistically, there’s still only a 10 per cent chance of a Safety Car McLaren at the Hungarian Grand Prix Wins 11 (1988, 1991, 1992, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012) Poles 8 (1988, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012) Fastest laps 5 (1988, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005) Team Talk #14 Fernando Alonso Age 33 (July 29 1981) GPs 242 Wins 32 Poles 22 FLs 21 “It’s funny to think that both Jenson and I won our first grand prix in Hungary. That, of course, makes it a special place for me, and a venue that’ll always hold good memories for me. I really like this place; it’s a track that you really have to attack to get a good laptime, and, although it’s often thought of as a slow circuit, the sweeps around the back of the circuit are all really satisfying, and require a lot of commitment.  The left-hander at Turn Six, in particular, is a really great corner – approached blind over a crest, and really hard to nail perfectly. “I think the team is looking forward to this race: the track will offer us a reasonable opportunity to showcase our steady progress, and I’d like to think that, if everything runs smoothly, we could have a less difficult weekend.” #22 Jenson Button Age 35 (January 19 1980) GPs 274 Wins 15 Poles 8 FLs 8 “It’s going to be a nice feeling to return to the Hungaroring with Honda power behind me, having last won a race for Honda at this very track back in 2006. Obviously, I have a place in my heart for this place – any driver’s first grand prix victory is a special event – but, that aside, it’s a place I’ve always enjoyed. “Although my race at Silverstone was extremely disappointing, Fernando’s points finish was well deserved. There’s been absolutely no let-up on the technical side – having personally seen the effort that’s been going on at MTC, and heard about the work that’s being done at Sakura, I know we’re slowly but surely getting there. “Of course, that’s difficult to substantiate without decent results, but let’s hope we can go into the summer break feeling confident about the second half of the season.” Eric Boullier Racing director, McLaren-Honda “Last weekend’s sad news about Jules Bianchi means that the grand prix circus heads to Budapest with heavy hearts. We’ll all remember his life in our own personal way, but Formula 1 will come together on Sunday to silently and respectfully mark his passing.  “The weekend’s news has firmly put things into perspective, but we head to Hungary keen to shake off the poor luck we’ve encountered in recent races. “It’s been a source of great frustration to see new components and upgrades destroyed before they’ve had the chance to be race-proven, through a series of first-lap accidents. However, the unshakeable belief and optimism of Fernando and Jenson has set the example for the whole team: they are remarkable assets, and their commitment during these times is incredibly valuable. “Honda, too, has shown a commitment that remains admirably undiminished. Together, we are showing the fighting spirit and resilience that will see us continue to improve our performance and reliability as we move back to the front. “I hope that our performance in Hungary will scratch the surface on the performance and potential that lies within our organisation – it would be great to go into the break feeling re-energised about the races ahead.” Yasuhisa Arai Chief officer of motorsport, Honda R&D Co Ltd “The Hungaroring is a twisty track that’s mostly made up of continuous slow- to mid-speed corners and various elevation changes that makes it very difficult to overtake. Each corner is technical and tight, but there is a certain flow to it that makes it different from a stop-and-go circuit. “Due to its lack of long straights and full-throttle sectors, this track is less strenuous for the power unit compared to most circuits. However, the frequent undulation requires more precise energy management and deployment at lower gears and corner exits. Getting our energy management settings right will be crucial throughout the weekend. “Our goal is to end the first half of the season with precise energy management and full use of the ERS to enable the drivers' skills to shine through at this circuit. ”

Infiniti Red Bull Racing previews the upcoming 2015 Hungarian Grand Prix.

Daniel Ricciardo

Q1: OK Daniel, what's so good about the Hungarian Grand Prix?

Ricciardo: 

How long have you got? The Hungarian Grand Prix has a lot going for it. Personally, I love these races in the European summer when you have the high temperatures and – usually – the great weather. Plus, it's the final race before the summer break, and that tends to put everyone in a good mood. 

There's usually a really good party on Sunday night and, because of the break, everyone tends to stay and have fun. Budapest is a cool city – really good restaurants and bars, really nice, really loyal fans and basically a great place to have a grand prix. That's the short version.

Q2: Your opinion of the track is a little mixed.

Ricciardo: 

It's a great, great track for a qualifying lap, one of the best of the year. It's tight, twisty and bumpy, and you have to use a lot of curb, so getting in a low fuel, new tire lap right on the limit is lots and lots of fun. But, for the same reasons the race tends to be quite tight with not a lot of overtaking.

Q3: And yet...

Ricciardo: 

Well, yeah, last year was a great race for me. Of the three wins last year, it was the one where I was definitely most excited during the race. It's tough for me to judge, but probably it was the best performance of the three, purely because of the people I passed to finish in the lead. I had tires in better condition – excellent strategy from our guys – but Fernando and Lewis don't let you have the places for free. I had to really work for it.

Q4: And rumors of a good celebration afterwards...

Ricciardo: 

Yeah, that happened! Winning the race was awesome, but the fact I had half a dozen mates over for the race made it even better. What I said about Hungary being the final race before the break? We had a really good Sunday night.

Daniil Kvyat

Q1: After a good race in Britain – at what might be termed a power circuit – we're heading for the Hungaroring. What are you expecting from Budapest's very different and very twisty circuit?

Kvyat: 

I really used to enjoy it in Formula Renault 2.0, but it's probably a little bit too narrow for modern Formula One cars. But still, in qualifying it really makes you push to the limit. You're right on the edge, and you never get a rest during the lap. I think that's the biggest characteristic of the circuit.

Q2: You mentioned racing in junior series. Has Hungary been kind to you in the past?

Kvyat: 

I was on pole and won there in Formula Renault 2.0 in 2012 and was on the podium in GP3 in the feature race, so I've got pretty good memories of racing here.

Q3: Is it a technically demanding track, a place where you have to be inch-perfect?

Kvyat: 

It is pretty challenging, yes. You need to hit every apex right. Don't make any mistakes in your line selection. It's quite a difficult one to get right, but I do find it to be a lot of fun.

Q4: Speaking of fun, Budapest comes with a reputation of being one of F1's more party-oriented venues. Do you get the chance to get out and about?

Kvyat: 

It's one of the best cities we go to during the whole championship. Budapest is very cool. We don't go crazy, obviously, but there are a few really nice restaurants along the river – particularly one Italian where I go quite often when I have time. I really like it along the river. It's cool.

Citroen continues to dominate in the World Touring car Championships at the Hungaroring track, Hungary.

Shortly before the cars lined up on the grid, a few drops of rain fell, leaving the Hungaroring track damp. All the drivers opted to keep their slicks on, and their decision was vindicated as the races were ultimately contested in dry conditions.

José María López got off to a flying start from the second row. He first got the better of Hugo Valente, before taking the first bend at a rapid pace to move past Yvan Muller and into the lead. Behind them, Sébastien Loeb and Ma Qing Hua collided, allowing Valente to climb back up to third. With his bumper damaged and his aerodynamics adversely affected, Sébastien Loeb found himself in sixth, behind Ma Qing Hua and Tiago Monteiro.

After a few laps, the gap between Pechito López and Yvan Muller had widened considerably and the Argentine driver was able to power towards his third race win of the season. On a circuit known to be short on overtaking opportunities, there were no further changes to the race order before the finish, with Ma Qing Hua and Sébastien Loeb taking fourth and sixth place respectively.

The best-placed Citroën driver on the grid for race two was Ma Qing Hua. Of all the C-Elysées, however, it was Sébastien Loeb who got away the best when the lights went out. The first bend saw Rob Huff go into a spin, causing Muller and Qing Hua to collide. López, who was not ideally placed on the outside, was able to take advantage to get back on Loeb’s tail.

The order of the drivers at the end of lap one was exactly the same at the finish: Michelisz, Coronel, Chilton, Monteiro, Loeb, López, Muller, Valente and Qing Hua. For the first time this season there were no Citroën drivers on the podium, but the team’s points tally for the weekend nevertheless stands them in excellent stead in both the Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ standings.

WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY

Yves Matton (Team Principal, Citroën Racing): “We knew that this would be a difficult weekend, with a weight penalty of 60kg on the most winding circuit of the season. Despite that, we have come out of the meeting with one pole position and one one-two finish. This first European meeting of the year has confirmed the popularity of FIA WTCC in Central Europe. We are satisfied with our weekend, but our thoughts are already turning to the next round at the Nürburgring. It promises to be one of the highlights of the World Championship.” 

José María López: “I think my start to race one was the best I’ve ever made in the WTCC. I’m really happy with this win, particularly after qualifying, which didn’t go brilliantly. Points-wise, this meeting has allowed me to extend my lead over Seb slightly, so it’s all positive.”

Yvan Muller: “I would have preferred to win, but I didn’t get as good a start as Pechito. I was out of the running after the first bend. I fought hard for the first three or four laps, then held back a little to avoid taking any pointless risks. Second is better than third.”

Sébastien Loeb: “I got away well in race one, before making a mistake in my procedure. At the end of the straight, Ma moved over in front of me and we hit each other. My ‘splitter’ was damaged and I wasn’t able to overtake. My second start was much better, but I spent the whole race behind Tiago Monteiro. He didn’t slip up once.”

Ma Qing Hua: “At the start of race one, I tried to come around on the outside, but Sébastien ran into me and that cost me a few places. I then had to battle with a car that was hard to drive. In the second race, I went for the inside option. This time, Yvan hit me from behind, when Huff span off. The car’s setup was totally off and I consider myself lucky to have finished in the top 10.”