Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

MOTORING

Prepare for some high-speed action in the world of motorsports this month

Supercar superstar

When it comes to the ultimate driving experience, few manufacturers are as adept as Mercedes-Benz at making wishes come true. Now the best just got better…

In September Mercedes-Benz will unleash its latest supercar, the SLR McLaren Roadster, a tribute to its tie-in and technological interplay with the Formula One team. This is a 300-plus kph dream machine for those with €500,000 to spend, and the courage to put it through its paces.

As a desirable object of automotive beauty, the SLR – with its flip-up doors, electronic lid-lowering in 10 seconds and sleek low posture – is an example of aesthetics at their finest.

As a V8 mean machine, with mind-blowing acceleration from standstill to 100kph in around 3.8 seconds, it promises to be an all-action experience not for the faint-hearted.

Such is the sophistication of the drop-top version, Mercedes boasts that even with the hood down, the driver and passenger can easily hold a conversation without shouting at well above 200kph – if the SLR hasn’t left them breathless.

Max Mosley demands cash to stop crashes

Max Mosley, the head of the FIA, the controlling authority of motorsport, a body concerned with road safety worldwide, wants tax incentives to be offered to drivers to lower crash figures

Mosley wants governments to agree to tax benefits to persuade drivers to adopt Electronic Stability Control (ESC) for their cars. This safety system can cut the risk of crashing by 20% to40%. That, Mosley believes, could save many thousands of lives a year.

The system uses sensors to detect when a car is in danger of getting out of control, then automatically brakes individual wheels or reduces engine output to return the wayward vehicle to a safe course before it slipss into what could be a fatal skid. Audi, BMW, Lexus, Mercedes, Porsche, Volvo and Cadillac already fit ESC as standard.

Mosley, who travels the world fronting road safety projects for the FIA, points out: “In the long term, tax incentives for drivers who specify optional ESC would work out cheaper for governments than the cost of accidents.”

Formula of the future

At the end of the month, aspiring Formula One drivers will tackle the perils of the sand-blown seaside Circuit Park Zandvoort in the North-Holland province of the Netherlands.

From 28-29 July, Formula BMW-Germany hopefuls will have the chance to prove their skills at the old Grand Prix circuit, battling for championship places after tackling Oschersleben, the EuroSpeedway in Lausitz, the Norisring and the Nurburgring.

The first car racing event took place at Zandvoort in August 1948. And until it was ruled too risky for Formula One because of its sandy squalls from the North Sea coast, it hosted 30 Grands Prix between 1952 and 1985.

++ JULY DIARY DATES ++ F1: 1 – French Grand Prix, Magny-Cours; 8 – British Grand Prix, Silverstone; 22 – German Grand Prix, Nurburgring ++ MotoGp: 15 – Sachsenring, Germany; 22 – Laguna Seca, USA ++ World Superbikes: 22 – Brno, Czech Republic

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