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A proposed radical revamp of Eastern Creek International Raceway would place Sydney in pole position to host Australia’s first Formula One Grand Prix under lights.

A key objective of the $93 million “Supercircuit” plan revealed yesterday would enable the 20-year-old track to accommodate Australia’s most prestigious international sporting event.

The F1 Grand Prix is the underlying objective of the $350,000 report commissioned by the Australian Racing Drivers Club (ARDC), which leases the track from the State Government.

Racing legend and ARDC board member Allan Moffat said Sydney could reverse the post-2000 Olympic trend which has seen Melbourne become the nation’s special events capital.

Although the Victorian capital has secured the event until 2015, the sport’s viability is dependent on European television ratings. In order that races can be seen in European prime time, the pressure is on hosts of southern hemisphere events to run them at night _ Singapore runs its first such event next month.

Earlier this year F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone threatened to end Australia’s race contract due to the local authorities’ unwillingness to convert the public space that is Albert Park into a nightrace capable circuit. A compromise to stage the race at 5pm has temporarily placated the dictatorial F1 chief.

“Bernie Ecclestone will get sick of Melbourne’s refusal to host a night race,” Mr Moffat said.

“We would be in a position to take advantage. It would cost three times as much to develop a suitable facility on virgin land. We have the basis for it right here in the middle of Blacktown, Australia’s fastest growing area.”

Clive Bowen, managing director of Apex Circuit Design Ltd, the British company which drew up the plans, said the new facility could be built within two years using more than 70 per cent of the existing circuit as its base.

“In order to run a nightrace, we would simply have to run in cables and erect towers,” Mr Bowen said.

One of the most noticable features, however, is to simply reverse the direction of the traffic to the anti-clockwise, which would mean that the famously fast turn one becomes turn 12.

“Regulations require a heavy braking zone at the end of the straight of category one circuit,” Mr Bowen said.

“It will be a spectacular sight for spectators who will be in natural amphitheatre.” Unlike the proposed annual V8 Supercar event at Olympic Park, the Eastern Creek plan permits year round community use. The development entails a complex for road safety training, convention facilities, music arenas and a purpose-built “youth entertainment” bowl.

The actual racing circuit would be extended by by more than 800 metres to 4.7km and provide simultaneous use of a 3km national track, a 1.7km club circuit, a corporate track and a drift bowl to be built in a special stadium section of the complex.

With the Oran Park circuit due to make way for a housing development from 2010, NSW’s only dedicated race track would be Eastern Creek and the tiny Wakefield Park circuit near Goulbourn. Mr Moffat said that Eastern Creek had to turn down 60 day’s bookings this year.

“People forget that Eastern Creek is some 20 years old,” he said.

“The plan would future proof it for another 20 to 30 years.”

- The Daily Telegraph

Holden has given itself two years in which to establish its new Colorado nameplate.

The new arrival has to make a mark in the light commercial market before the next generation model arrives.

The good looking Colorado takes over from the Rodeo, one of Holden’s oldest model names (the other veterans are Statesman and Commodore).

Holden says it is well aware of the enormity of the marketing task it faces to get the Colorado name established and will kick off with a massive advertising campaign highlighting the ute’s toughness.

Holden can no longer use the Rodeo name — it is owned by truck builder Isuzu, a long-term alliance partner of General Motors, but that relationship has ended and Isuzu wants to hang on to the name for itself.

Ironically, the new Colorado is still being built on Isuzu’s production line in Thailand. As for the name, Holden says it did extensive market research and Colorado, despite its American links, was strongly accepted.

Holden’s director of marketing Phillip Brook says the split with Isuzu has had an upside — it has given Holden the chance to step back and re-assess how it can tackle the tough light truck market.

While Holden is keen to push the Colorado as a `new’ model there’s a degree of smoke and mirrors here — it is under the skin at least, a five-year-old Rodeo albeit freshened with a new and more attractive Holden family face.

This latest model is due to be replaced in about two years with a slightly larger Colorado being developed by GM in Brazil which will be used in several General Motors global markets. While there is a South American connection, Australian models will continue to be built in Thailand.

The larger model will give Holden the added firepower it needs — one of the negatives of the previous Rodeo was its smaller size compared to its rivals like the Toyota HiLux.

The current Colorado meanwhile keeps Holden alive in the market and comes with sharp pricing and more standard equipment than the previous Rodeo, although the model range has been reduced to a more workable 16 models.

Brook says pricing has been maintained or lowered by up to $1500 over the outgoing Rodeo line up. The range opens at $19,990 for the DX 2.4l single cab chassis and stretches to $45,990 for the four-wheel drive LT-R turbo diesel.

He says there has been a big swing to four-wheel drive models which double as work trucks during the week and as sporty family fun vehicles at the weekend.

To capitalise on that Holden has a new sports variant called the LT-R which comes with all the trinkets including a sports bar, soft tonneau cover, rear park assist, side steps, smart alloy wheels and Bluetooth capability (on four-wheel drive models).

Overall, there’s a choice of three body styles, three engines (the turbo models are easy to pick by their big bonnet scoop), two-wheel or four-wheel drive and two transmissions.

One of the Colorado’s big selling points will be a three-tonne tow rating on the 3-litre turbo diesel four-wheel drive recreation models making it perfect for those with boats or horse floats while two-wheel workhorse versions are limited to 2 tonnes for the 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol and 2.5 tonnes for the 3.6-litre petrol V6.

While the Colorado has become a more comfortable and versatile all-purpose vehicle it still misses out on safety features found in most cars.

The launch of the Colorado comes at a time when the US Institute for Highway Safety has questioned the safety of some utes in America because they lack side airbags or electronic stability control which can help steer a vehicle out of a skid.

Holden says fitting ESC is a difficult challenge which all ute manufacturers face because these vehicles are often heavily modified by owners which can change the vehicle’s weight and weight distribution — two factors which have to be calibrated into an ESC system.

The Colorado has dual front air bags in all models, but none have been engineered for side air bags or ESC and only the LT-R and all LX four-wheel drive models have anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution — a safety feature Holden now leads the pack with.

Here’s confirmation that Lamborghini drivers are hot-headed…

According to WrekedExotics.com this is a 2006 Murciélago Roadster that had an engine fire in Key Largo, Florida.

The Jaguar XF has been a shot of adrenaline for the perpetually struggling leaping cat, as sexy lines and ample performance are adding new customers to the brand. We love the balance of the naturally aspirated V8 and the ample bite of its supercharged sibling, but we’ll always be agreeable with the prospect of more power. Spy photos have shown us that an even more vicious feline is on the horizon with a blown 5.0L V8 that cranks out north of 500 ponies.

The folks over at Auto Telegraaf are reporting that the XFR will be unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show next January, which would give Jaguar a big introduction at North America’s biggest auto show. We liked what we saw when the XFR made its cloaked debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed (that graphic on the side should so be an option), and we’re looking forward to seeing Tata’s most powerful vehicle when it hits Detroit.

[Source: Auto Telegraaf]