Bentley Motorsport made an impressive debut at the famous Mount Panorama circuit in Bathurst, Australia.

• Continental GT3 #10 of Guy Smith, Steven Kane and Matt Bell finish fourth in debut at Bathurst 12 Hours, third in Pro class.
• Car #10 leads for final hour, only losing out with four minutes to go
• Contact in final corner almost spins car, dropping from P2 to P4
• Car #11 runs until final hour, when a drivetrain failure caused by rear-end damage from contact forces retirement

Bentley Motorsport made an impressive debut at the famous Mount Panorama circuit in Bathurst, Australia, taking a fourth-place finish after twelve hours of incredibly close racing. The #10 Continental GT3 of the British driving trio of Guy Smith, Steven Kane and Matt Bell drove a strong race to take the lead in the final hour, only to be defeated in the final two laps by the #35 Nissan utilising a Balance of Performance power advantage. Driving the final stint, Matt Bell managed to hold second place until the last corner, when he was forced off line by two bouts of contact from chasing cars, ultimately crossing the line fourth.

The sister #11 car of Andy Soucek, Maximilian Buhk and Harold Primat endured a tougher race, having made progress in the opening hours of the race to climb from P21 on the grid to be racing in the top ten. A series of drive-through penalties cost time, dropping the car down the order, until a failure in the closing hour caused by rear-end contact left the car without drive. However, for new Bentley Boys Andy and Maxi, who will drive together all season, the race was a great opportunity to compete together for the first time alongside the drivers of car #10.

Brian Gush, Bentley’s Director of Motorsport, comments:

“We came to Bathurst to show the pace of the Continental GT3 over one of the toughest endurance races in the word. While we’ll leave here knowing we’ve succeeded in that mission, and proud of finishing in the top five, we also know it could’ve and should’ve been more. The Bentley Boys drove an outstanding race and it’s very tough to see their efforts undone on the closing lap by what appeared to be unsportsmanlike driving.”

Rolf Frech, Bentley’s Member of the Board for Engineering, comments:

“I’m very pleased with the performance that the team has showed today. The pace of the cars, the efficiency of the pit crew and the speed of the drivers bodes well for the season ahead. “

The Story of the Race

The #10 Continental GT3 of Guy Smith, Steven Kane and Matt Bell started the race in P10. Over an opening double stint, Guy climbed to P4 before handing the car to Matt Bell on lap 66. Matt piloted the Continental GT3 all the way to P2 before assuming P1 as cars pitted behind the safety car. A blocked drinks tube combined with increasing cabin temperatures behind the safety car meant that Matt had to pit slightly early as fatigue in the 30°C temperatures set in, and after Steven Kane replaced him the car sat P10.

By lap 105, Steven was up to P8, when a drive-through penalty was awarded for a race restart procedural infringement. Fortunately, Steven maintained his position, and by lap 131 he was up to P3. Guy then started his second stint, driving with precision and outright speed to claim P2 by lap 162. He finished his stint on lap 170, when a rejuvenated Matt Bell (complete with working drinks tube) took the wheel for the second time. His stint was going well until contact with a lapped competitor resulted in an unnecessary and harsh drive-through penalty, which dropped Matt to P6.

However, by the time he stopped on lap 207, Matt had recovered to P2. Steven’s second stint started behind the safety car in P6 after the stop, but by lap 230 Steven had retaken the lead as other cars made their pit visits. He held the lead until giving the car back to Matt Bell on lap 242, who rejoined P3 and then made his way to the lead of the race as others made their final pit stops. 

Two safety car in the closing minutes added to the tension as the race clock counted down, and while Matt held the lead during the first race restart, at the second restart the more powerful #35 Nissan took the lead. Matt showed great skill in maintaining second place until the last corner, when a fight for third place between the #15 Audi and #97 Aston Martin resulted in Matt being forced off line and almost in to a spin, ultimately finishing fourth.

Maximilian Buhk, Andy Soucek and Harold Primat started from P21 on the grid in the sister #11 Continental GT3. It was Maxi who started the race, finding space in the opening laps to climb 11 places to P10. He handed over to Harold Primat on lap 29, who then faced a challenging stint that involved two drive-through penalties following race restart infractions and a spin after light contact with a backmarker. 

At the end of his two-hour driving session, Harold pitted from P21, so that Andy Soucek could start a recovery. From lap 81 to lap 143, Andy climbed eight places to P13, before handing back to Harold, who drove a short stint until lap 170 when Maxi Buhk rejoined the race after a driver change in P12.

On lap 207, Andy Soucek took charge of the #11 car once again, continuing in P12 until a stop on lap 229 for a brake pad change. He emerged from the pits in P16 and then handed the car to Maxi Buhk on lap 244. Maxi continued to push hard until lap 253, when a failure in the drivetrain caused by damage to the rear of the car from earlier contact left the car stranded and forced an unhappy retirement.

Driver Quotes

Guy Smith, car #10: “This race has got to be one of the most exciting of my career. It wasn’t like an endurance race – it was more like a 12-hour sprint. I’m really pleased with our pace and how strong our car was today, but ultimately we couldn’t quite hold on for the win. We know we should’ve finished second, but unfortunately racing isn’t always fair. We’ve learnt so much this weekend and will make sure we’re even stronger for the start of our European season at Monza.”

Steven Kane, car #10: “We came here with an ambition to race hard and well, and we certainly did that today. We got the setup of our car right and showed great pace throughout the 12 hours, and to finish such a race less than four seconds from the winner is no mean feat. Matt was phenomenal in the last hour to hold on for as long as he did, and the third-in-class trophy is a small consolation. We can use what we’ve learnt here to help with our Blancpain campaign this year, and we can’t wait to get started.”

Matt Bell, car #10: “It was amazing to come here with Bentley and we put on a great show. This was my first race in the Continental GT3 and I’m thoroughly impressed with the car that Bentley Team M-Sport has developed. Guy and Steven were amazing throughout the race, and put me in a position where I could battle right to the last corner. It’s a shame we couldn’t have a clean race finish, but I as a driver and we as a team are rightly proud of our performance.”

Maximilian Buhk, car #11: “This was a real rollercoaster of a race for us. We started strongly and made up so many places, getting in to the top ten, but the penalties dropped us down the order again. I was still enjoying the race in the top 20 when we had a failure and the car lost drive. These things happen, but we leave here knowing that we have a very fast car – so the season ahead looks good.”

Andy Soucek, car #11: “The weekend has been tough and we were obviously hoping for a better result. However, there are a lot of positives to take from here – we arrived at a new circuit for the car, adapted quickly, and had really good pace. That gives me confidence for the season and I’m really looking to getting started with the Blancpain Endurance Series.”

Harold Primat, car #11: “This has been a really mixed race weekend for me. I’ve enjoyed working with the Bentley team and getting to know the Continental GT3, but some driving mistakes meant I had a really difficult first stint. We regrouped as a team really well and got back on the pace, and I was much happier with my second stint. Overall it was a good experience with the new race car and we can take away knowledge for my season with Bentley Team HTP in Europe.”

Race Result – Top 10

	Team	Car	Drivers	Gap	Fastest lap
1	NISMO Athlete Global Team	#35 Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3	K. Chiyo / W. Reip / F. Strauss	0	2:03.9769
2	Phoenix Racing	#15 Audi R8-LMS Ultra	L. Vanthoor / M. Mapelli / M. Winkelhock	2.4529	2:03.3091
3	Craft Bamboo Racing	#97 Aston Martin Vantage GT3	S. Mucke / A. MacDowell / D. O’YOung	2.8016	2:04.4514
4	Bentley Team M-Sport	#10 Bentley Continental GT3	M.Bell / G. Smith / S.Kane	3.7821	2:05.1808
5	Erebus Motorsport	#36 Mercedes SLS AMG GT3	J. LeBrocq / R. Muscat / D. Canto	3.9430	2:04.5607
6	Vicious Rumour Racing	#49 Ferrari F458 Italia GT3	A. Montermini /	1 lap	2:05.5603
7	JBS Australia	#32 Lamborghini LP 560	D. Russell / S. Owen / R. Lago	1 lap	2:04.8101
8	Clearwater Racing	#33 Ferrari F458 Italia GT3	T.Vilander / M. Griffin  / M.W. Sun	1 lap	2:04.8706
9	Phoenix Racing	#16 Audi R8-LMS Ultra	S. Ortelli / C. Haase / F. Baumgartner	1 lap	2:05.0164
10	Hallmarc / Network Clothing	#9 Audi R8-LMS Ultra	C. Mies / M. Eddy / M. Cini	2 laps	2:05.0948
DNF	#11 Bentley Team M-Sport	#11 Bentley Continental GT3	M. Buhk / A. Soucek / H. Primat	N/A	2:05.1746

Bultaco motorcycles are back, and with modern hybrid technology.

• Bultaco is back with a solid project and an international team with extensive technological, industrial and commercial experience.
• Bultaco’s values today are the same as when it was founded: innovation, passion and competition.
• The first models will have an advanced electrical propulsion system.
• The product range was envisioned for people who appreciate the sensations of a motorcycle and for clients who are seeking a new kind of mobility.
• The project will create around 500 jobs, either directly or indirectly, in
• Madrid at its innovation centre and in Barcelona at its manufacturing plant.

Today (17th April 2014), on the anniversary of the founding of the brand and the birth of its creator – Don Paco Bultó – Bultaco is announcing its return to the motorcycle market.

The four most noteworthy features of this project are:

• Advanced technology developed in-house. Just like in the 20th century, in the 21st century Bultaco will stand out for its advanced technological solutions. Bultaco is offering motorcycles with their own disruptive technology which will become a benchmark internationally, along with future developments in electrical and hybrid traction and ultra-light materials.
• A solid industrial project, with total control over the value chain: research and development, operations, finances, marketing and sales.
• A prestigious brand name. Bultaco is a legend in the world of motorcycles, a brand with numerous successes in competition, worldwide fame and a strong perceived image in the market.
• A highly professional team. The entrepreneurial team includes first-rate international professionals, executives and engineers with renowned technical prowess in the automotive sector worldwide.

In 2015, the first BULTACO models will be built with its own in-house electrical propulsion system; the prototypes being unveiled today are a sneak peak at the motorcycles we will see riding our streets in the future. A painstaking industrialisation process has been pursued to get to this model, from the validation of prototypes to the creation of the network of suppliers, all revolving around the new Bultaco factory in Barcelona.

The idea

“What began as a thesis project has become a company with the size and solidity needed to create a new generation of Bultaco motorcycles.” Juan Manuel Vinós, CEO and cofounder.

The origins of Bultaco lie in a project by LGN TECH Design S.L., an engineering firm specialised in mechanical and electronic design focused on developing its own patents. José Germán Pérez, Raúl Pérez, Juan Manuel Vinós, Gerald Pöllmann and Jorge Bonilla founded this company in 2010 with the suppor t of the Technology Park of the University Carlos III.

After two years of development and research, the company tested its technology in the most demanding setting: competition. LGN, today Bultaco Motors, participated in the 1st World Electrical Motorcycle Championship organised by FIM in 2011. With a motorcycle that was readied in just three months, and competing with brands with a great deal more experience and superior models, Bultaco Motors did surprisingly well: it came in 3rd in the first Magny-Cours race and 4th in the overall rankings.

These sound results in competition and the backing of people with extensive knowledge and experience in the automotive sector were the decisive factors needed to move on to the next step: creating the structure needed to launch a range of motorcycles onto the market.

In that next stage, this original project became Bultaco. “We were not looking for a prestigious name for a promising project; it was something different. Bultaco’s hallmarks from the start, namely its spirit of constant striving, its technological innovation and its passion for motorcycles, are the same hallmarks we have today. They are timeless values,” adds Juan Manuel Vinós.

 

The founding team and the Bultó family immediately realised that they saw eye to eye. From day one, the Bultós recognised that this team is the perfect candidate to relaunch the brand. With the steadfast support of the Bultó family for the Bultaco project, it entered a new stage in its history.

The project

“Judging from my experience, we have a team that is capable in all aspects of the project: the technology, the design, the industrialisation and the sales.” Gerald Pöl lmann, Chairman and Cofounder.

As a business project, Bultaco rests upon three pillars: the product, the industry and the commercialisation. The product range to be launched features technology that was developed in-house and a design that is sure to captivate users. The Innovation Centre is located in Madrid, while the manufacturing will take place in Barcelona with part of the managerial team of the former Derbi factory. The location of the factory is ideal because of its proximity to a park of specialised suppliers, its knowledgeable workforce and the logistics.

The new generation of Bultaco will attract two kinds of clients; first, aficionados who love the sensations they can only get from a motorcycle, especially ones with a certain level of features, and secondly people with a positive attitude and an interest in new 21^st-century solutions for integrated mobility and connectivity. To reach these clients, Bultaco will create a sales network, initially in Spain, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and France.

Bultaco’s sales plan, which is both solid and viable, is based on four factors:

• Progressive evolution in the new market for electrical motorcycles.
• The needs of new-generation users.
• Today’s environmental needs.
• The opportunity to integrate business lines.

The technology

“My father always said that the ideal scenario would be a constant torque engine with the same response as any system for a motorcycle without gearshifts. And at the end he said: as if we had an electrical engine.” Paco Bultó Junior.

Initially, the Bultaco range will include different kinds of vehicles driven by its in-house electrical propulsion system. These products were developed from scratch with the goal of getting the maximum advantages that this propulsion system can yield. Safe, tested elements were used in order not to compromise the reliability or durability of the performance in systems that provide outstanding performance.

The Bultaco Drive Train System (DTS), unlike other electrical two-wheeled vehicles, enables the maximum energy performance to be yielded from regenerative braking. This is possible because the technology applied to the chassis maximises the rear wheels’ adherence during braking, which enables a considerable electrical braking torque to be applied.

The energy accumulation system, which combines a lithium-ion battery and ultra-condensers, is yet another feature that ensures performance far superior to that of other comparable vehicles.

The development of the BEDTS has been carried out in collaboration with Viesca Engineering, company with a wide experience in the field of the highspeed rail. The software in the Bultaco Control Unit (BCU) is extraordinarily functional. It enables the driver to manage the engine power, energy recovery, battery recharge and connection to mobile devices.

Through the Biker Manager application created by Bultaco, users can find out information such as the battery charge, the autonomy depending on the kind of driving and the location of the motorcycle, among many other features. All of this technology can be seen in the Rapitán and Rapitán Sport prototypesthat Bultaco is unveiling today, which are close approximations to the Bultaco motorcycles that will be brought to market in 2014.

The future

“Electrical propulsion is the right kind of propulsion for everyone seeking fun, outstanding features. We are also currently working on other solutions, such as hybrid propulsion, to cover other needs.” José Germán Pérez, R&D director and cofounder.

In early 2014, Bultaco will bring an electrical Light Bike to market, various versions of which will be developed. In the middle of that year, the Electrical Urbanmotard will be launched, which anticipates the Rapitán prototype. The Bultaco engineering team is already working on another kind of vehicle using the technology shown in the prototype, and on other future developments, as well as on other propulsion systems. Today, no form of propulsion for a two-wheeled vehicle that could be brought to market by 2020 is being discarded.

From an industrial standpoint, Bultaco is also contemplating the possibility of supplying parts to other manufacturers. The staffing forecasted for 2015 consists of 150 people, including direct and indirect employees, for an initial production chain of 2,000 units. With the rise in production, and because the majority of suppliers are Spanish, forecasts are to reach 500 jobs, either direct or indirect.

Ramge Rover beats everyone to win J.D. Power APEAL award.

• First time a model outside the large premium car segment has ranked highest among all model in the industry
• Land Rover Brand Ranks 4th

According to J.D. Power 2013 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study released today, the Land Rover Range Rover achieves the highest APEAL score in its segment and of any model in the industry in 2013, which marks the first time a model outside the large premium car segment has done so. The Land Rover brand ranks 4th overall, an improvement of two placements from 6th in 2012. Land Rover's Range Rover was the award recipient for Large Premium Crossover/SUV in both 2010 and 2011.

"It’s a fantastic achievement for the fourth generation Range Rover to be ranked highest in the J.D. Power 2013 APEAL Study,” says Kim McCullough, Brand Vice President, Land Rover North America. “This underscores the investment being made to innovation and engineering across the Land Rover product portfolio and into making this vehicle the most refined, most capable Range Rover ever.”

The lighter and stronger 2013 Range Rover takes luxury and capability to a new level, with greater refinement and enhanced performance and handling on all terrains. As the fourth generation of the Range Rover line, this model was developed from the ground up, capturing the innovative spirit and iconic design of the original model which changed the world of motoring when it was launched over 40 years ago. The new Range Rover was launched last October to acclaim, receiving over 20 awards and accolades globally to date. It is the world's first aluminum unibody SUV, weighing around 700lbs lighter than the outgoing model.

Since going on sale this past December, the fourth generation Range Rover has been received with strong demand across the U.S. Over 6,000 Range Rovers have been sold in the U.S. this year and sales of the model have led to 28 percent year-over-year increase.

The APEAL Study serves as the industry benchmark for new-vehicle appeal, has been completely redesigned for 2013. The study, now in its 18th year, has been updated to better measure the appeal of today’s vehicles, particularly with respect to the new technologies and features now being offered. Owners evaluate their vehicle across 77 attributes, which roll up into an overall APEAL score on a 1,000-point scale.

The study is used extensively by manufacturers worldwide to help them design and develop more appealing vehicles and by consumers to help them in their purchase decisions. The 2013 APEAL Study is based on responses gathered between February and May 2013 from more than 83,000 purchasers and lessees of new 2013 model-year cars and light trucks who were surveyed after the first 90 days of ownership. The APEAL Study complements the Initial Quality Study (IQS), which focuses on problems experienced by owners during the first 90 days of ownership.