Text: Tony Dron

Photos: Porsche Press

Talking of Porsche cars, how many people today casually roll out the name 'Carrera' without knowing what it really means? Carrera, the Spanish for 'race', has been used by Porsche for the best part of half a century, and it first appeared on road cars in 1956.

Porsche‘s "Exclusive" individual program for the 911 Turbo and 911 Carrera models offers far more in performance and power reserves than a sports car from Zuffenhausen does already.

Before the 2002 motorsport season takes off with the 12 Hours of Sebring, the Audi works drivers have recharged their batteries at a fitness camp in Switzerland´s ski resort St. Moritz.

Prodrive is taking the best known marque in motorsport, Ferrari, back to the most famous race in the world, the Le Mans 24 hour.

Plans for the British International Motor Show are steaming ahead, burying memories of the cancellation of last year’s London Motor Show. The cancellation of the 2001 event seemed a dire pronouncement on the state of the industry yet it attracted little media attention. Perhaps there are too many shows? In any case, is the traditional Motor Show becoming a thing of the past?

All UK versions of the Audi TT Coupe and Roadster quattro are being equipped with an enhanced specification at no addition to the on-the-road prices, which range from £24,050 to £29,000. The improved spec includes larger 18-inch alloy wheels and further lowered sports suspension, while 225bhp versions also gain titanium headlamp surrounds. Standard metallic and pearl effect paints are now free of charge.

In the 2002 season, AUDI AG faces one of the biggest challenges in motor racing: after two consecutive victories, Audi Sport Team Joest starts the legendary Le Mans 24 Hour race on 15 and 16 June 2002, trying to achieve a hat-trick.

A long wheelbase Grand Touring derivative of the Aston Martin DB7 Vantage Volante providing spacious full four seat accommodation has been developed by Australian automotive company Director, Peter Malone utilising the skills of a specialist team of Midlands based craftsmen project managed by RDS Automotive Limited (Rig Design Services).

Proposed changes to the FIA GT rules will make the Lotus Elise and Exige eligible to compete in the new N-GT category. Although there do not seem to be any plans for a works entry, the factory believes that for privateers an N-GT Elise would be a “natural evolution” of the Lotus Sports Elise, which last year competed in such races as the Spa 24 Hours.