Castrol

Motorsport
News
Issue 05

Formula 1
Profile
Montoya joins the
Grand Prix elite
Review
Castrol savours
more F1 glory

WRC
Technical
Exclusive behind
the scenes look
at top rally team
Interview
Hyundai’s Alister
McRae speaks out

WSB
Insight
Setting the world
superbike scene
Review
Low down on
Sidecar action

International
Review
Champions on
land and water

Sandstorm. Top guns

on target for world
championship honours
Formula One Magic Montoya Man on a mission www.castrol.com
F1 review Winning ways

Victory Juan

F1 Review The winning habit

Pablo Montoya
comes of age
with maiden F1
win at Monza
Story Jonathan Gill
Auto Express

Over the ages, South America has spawned

➜

more than its fair share of outright Grand Prix

winners. Indeed, the continent has provided four of
F1’s most celebrated champions: Juan Manuel
Fangio, Emerson Fittipaldi, Nelson Piquet and Ayrton
Senna. Up until now, however, all of the continent’s
star performers have hailed from just two countries
– Argentina and Brazil.
But, thanks to Juan Pablo Montoya, a new nation
is now firmly on the South American motor sport
map. Having come close to clinching his maiden
Grand Prix victory on several previous occasions,
the Colombian finally made his mark at Monza in
mid-September. And further successes are virtually
assured as the BMW WilliamsF1 Team becomes an
increasingly potent force within the upper echelons
of Formula 1.

BMW Motorsport’s director, Gerhard Berger

agrees whole-heartedly with the WilliamsF1 design
guru. “Juan Pablo’s victory at Monza will give him
extra confidence and I am sure we will see more
and more great drives from him. Next year he’ll
show us all just how good he really is,” predicts the
affable Austrian who knows exactly what it takes to
win at the top level having himself scored nine
breaking moments that came earlier in the 2001
campaign. After pulling off an audacious move on
the Ferrari champion in Brazil, the BMW WilliamsF1
Team ace was leading by a country mile when
unceremoniously taken out of the race by an errant Formula 1 is all Although Michael
back-marker. Three months on, he once again about patience and Schumacher and Maranello

“No one can deny that Juan Pablo thoroughly
deserved his first F1 win,” says Patrick Head,
technical director at WilliamsF1. “He’s a very strong
and hugely talented driver and has been knocking
on the door for most of the season. I believe he is
certain to be one of the major challengers in next
year’s championship and, from that point of view,
it is a very good thing that he’s got his first win out
of the way this season.”
➜
Grands Prix victories. seemed all set for a famous maiden F1 victory – progress. When have again taken both titles
However, Montoya’s arrival among the elite hasn’t this time in Germany – when a problem with the past champion BMW in 2001, no one is in any
surprised many of those on the pit-wall. After all the refuelling rig caused his engine to overheat. returned to Grand Prix doubt that the BMW
highly-touted 26-year-old arrived in F1 at the start of “There were a couple of previous opportunities racing with Castrol and the WilliamsF1 Team has made
the 2001 season with an impressive track record where I could have won but I just said ‘when the WilliamsF1 Team at the start significant strides towards
having won the European F3000 Championship in time is meant to come it will come’. You can’t really of last season, the world the fore. Victories in San
1998, the CART Fedex Championship title as a rookie say it’s bad luck – it’s just racing and things like that was warned not to expect Marino, Canada, Germany
in 1999 and then the fearsome Indianapolis 500 in happen. You need to be patient,” he says with a immediate success. It would and Italy have more than
2000. Indeed, having first started competing in karts philosophical shrug of the shoulders. “Besides, take time for this exciting exceeded expectations.
when just five years old, Juan Pablo began earning considering this is my first year, I wasn’t really new partnership to fulfil its With two races remaining on
his spurs – and trophies – at a very early age. expecting to win and I’m pleased it only took 15 undoubted potential. the F1 calendar, the British-
“I’ve always dreamed of being in Formula 1 as it’s races. Sure, it has been tough at times; learning after Despite playing down its based team had doubled its
the absolute pinnacle of motor sport. Having tested all is never easy. But now we can turn another page chances BMW WiiliamsF1 2000 points tally and was
for Williams in the past, I wasn’t too apprehensive and look ahead to the future.” Team enjoyed some encour- seriously challenging
but it was always going to be a huge challenge as Montoya also admits that it has taken him a few aging results in 2000 and McLaren for second spot.
winning at any level is never easy,” admits the races to get the best out of his car during the all too more than achieved its initial What’s more both the
Colombian who has become a massive hero back at crucial qualifying sessions. However recent pole objectives. Ralf Schumacher younger Schumacher and
home. “It’s hard to believe. I went home after one positions on three of the most challenging tracks on posted three podiums and his new sparing partner
CART race and people were freaking out. Little kids the GP calendar – those at Hockenheim, Spa and finished the year in fifth Juan Pablo Montoya were
would see me and start crying. It’s incredible that Monza – have dispelled any doubts that the man place in the driver’s series, holding top five positions in
I’m having such a huge effect!” from Bogota has the ability to produce red hot laps three places in front of his the Drivers’ Championship.
With so much fame and success already under his on demand. impressive rookie team- It’s not going to be easy
belt, the cheeky Colombian relishes his day job with After his break-through victory at Monza, few mate Jenson Button. Better to topple Ferrari but, should
the kind of confidence that sometimes is mistaken now doubt Montoya’s ability to go all the way. With still, the team claimed third the team maintain its current
for arrogance. But it’s this total enthusiasm when so much talent on tap plus a Castrol lubricated BMW place in the Constructors’ momentum into 2002, the
tethered by a pinch of pragmatism, that has helped WilliamsF1 Team car that’s capable of winning, Juan Championship, albeit more high-flying Italians could
the exciting newcomer not only to compete wheel- Pablo is on target to become yet another South than 100 points behind both have a major struggle on
to-wheel with hardened F1 top guns such as Michael American champion. As he admits: “It’s building up Ferrari and McLaren. their hands.
Schumacher but also to overcome a couple of heart- quite nicely for next year.”

02 Castrol Motorsport News Castrol Motorsport News 03

World Rally Championship Talking Point McRae speaks out www.castrol.com
Behind the scenes From road car to rally racer

Evolution How do
Q and A Alister McRae

you turn a street

machine into a
special stage star?
Story Mark Wheeler

Today’s latest generation of World Rally Cars may

➜
bear a striking resemblance to the humble hatch-
backs found roaming your local high street but in
reality they are wolves in sheep’s clothing – none more
You’ve been with so than World Championship chasing Accent WRC 2
Hyundai since the entered by the Hyundai Castrol World Rally Team.
➜

start of the WRC
programme, how much
has the team progressed?
“I think you can see just
how much the team has
stepped forward by the
performance of the car. We
started as a very small team
competing in Formula 2 and
now we are quick enough to
lead events as my team-
mate Kenneth Eriksson did
recently in New Zealand.”
What difference has
the recent introduction of
the Accent WRC 2 made?
“It’s been a significant
evolution notably on gravel
surfaces as that’s where
we’ve concentrated our
resources. We’ve closed the
gap on those at the front but
as they are also moving
forwards sometimes it hides
our progress.”
What are the strengths
and weaknesses of the
current package?
“We now have a car
that’s quick and reliable – I
think we proved the Accent’s
strength in Portugal where
both Kenneth and I finished
what was a torridly tough
event in awful conditions.
The car is probably at its
best on fast flowing roads
like those in New Zealand or
Finland. We can still make
progress on engine develop-
ment and it’s fair to say that
the Accent is harder on its
tyres than we’d like. But,
overall, the package is
improving all of the time.”
When can we expect
to see a Hyundai driver
challenging for a WRC
podium position?
“It’s not far away. With
the next evolution due early
in 2002 there’s no reason
why we shouldn’t be
challenging for points and
podiums right from the start
of the season.”
What, to date, has
been the highlight of the
2001 season?
“If you look at our stage
times, it must be New
Zealand. Although we failed
to turn our excellent first day
performance into top six
finishes, you must remember
that none of the factory
entries retired on the event.”
What are your hopes
for your home event, the
Rally GB?
“I really enjoy the Welsh
stages but there’s no longer
any home advantage as all
the top drivers now have as
much experience as me in
the area. That said, my
brother Colin and Richard
Burns always seem to be
inspired by competing in the
UK; hopefully I can squeeze
a bit extra out of myself too.”
Can the WRC become
a top international sport
to rank alongside F1?
“The potential is there –
a series involving seven
major motor manufacturers
is big news and the TV
coverage is expanding too.
It’s not going to happen
overnight but, given time,
there’s no reason why it
should not become one of
the world’s major sports.”
The statistics speak for themselves. Down at you
local Hyundai showroom a three-door Accent 1.5MVi
will cost you less than £10,000. For your hard-earned
cash you will secure the services of a remarkably well-
equipped front-driven hatch. Thanks to a 1.5-litre
engine developing 101 bhp and 133 Nm of torque, the
MVi will accelerate from standstill to 60 mph in just
over ten seconds and reach a top speed of 110 mph
given a decent stretch of German autobahn.
Now compare the customer car’s vital statistics with
those of the battle dressed Accent WRC 2. Valued at
around £300,000, the rally weapon’s Castrol lubricated
2-litre turbocharged engine produces around 300 bhp
plus a thumping 520 Nm of torque. To transmit all this
power to slippery surfaces, the WRC 2 features an
intelligent four-wheel-drive system featuring computer
controlled active differentials plus a unique six-speed
sequential transmission system. To improve weight
distribution and therefore the car’s road-holding and
handling characteristics, this ingenious and patented
system – naturally lubricated by Castrol – uses a
longitudinal gearbox designed to work in harness with
a transverse engine. The ultimate result of this leading
edge engineering is a high-tech rocket ship capable of
competing against the very best at the forefront of the
2001 World Rally Championship. The WRC 2 will rocket
to 60mph in just 3.5 seconds and as gearchanges are
completed in just 0.1 of a second.
Such is the huge complexity of evolution from
road to rally car that the ‘Clark Kent to Superman’
transformation takes no less than 1450 man-hours of
talented endeavour. Moreover it requires the sure-footed
skills of more than 30 highly trained specialists and
engineers to build each and every Accent WRC 2. The
painstaking process commences when bare bodyshells
are taken directly from the production in Korea; these
are then dispatched to Hyundai’s British-based
competition partner Motor Sport Developments.
On arrival at MSD, a bodyshell is transferred
immediately to the fabrication shop where it takes
three men a full month to first strip and then strengthen
the car’s bare bones. The original bulkhead and floor
are removed to provide room for the new four-wheel-
drive transmission to be fitted. Inner wheel-arches are
also replaced to allow a wider wheelbase and greater
suspension travel. The rear floor is also completely
reworked to make space for the rear differential and the team’s crack technicians can start the complex
fuel tanks. assembly process. To control quality and provide
When these modifications have been completed, flexibility, most of the individual components are
the shell is then subjected to a massive body building produced in-house by the precision engineering
programme. To provide the crew with protection and division within MSD: suspension uprights are milled
the engineers with a rigid chassis platform, a hefty roll and machined, wiring looms are prepared, sub-frames
cage is added and all the seams are strengthened by are constructed and engines are developed and fine
additional welding. It’s a huge challenge to complete tuned on dynamometers. When all these components
these tasks without compromising the car’s overall are completed, it then takes a three-man team a further
weight. With the standard road car tipping the scales at three weeks to complete the mechanical jig-saw
1005kg and the competition variant needing to be as puzzle. It’s a labour intensive exercise and, with
close to the 1230kg minimum weight limit as possible, around ten chassis required per season, the process is
there’s a very thin line between success and failure. A on-going throughout the year.
heavy car won’t be on the rally winning pace, but a It’s only after all of this meticulous preparation that
weak car won’t survive in a punishing sport that puts a hand-built Accent WRC 2 is finally ready to compete
the emphasis on stamina as well as speed. as a star performer within the globe-trotting Hyundai
Once the shell has been finished, it’s dispatched Castrol World Rally Team against the elite on the high-
first to the paint shop and then to the workshop where profile FIA World Championship stage.

04 Castrol Motorsport News Castrol Motorsport News 05

World Superbike
Review Superside success
As well as winning
on two and four
➜
wheels, Castrol is
celebrating major honours
on three wheels too!
This year’s FIM Sidecar
World Championship, or
‘Superside’ as the popular
WSB support series is now
known, has been a spell-
binding season-long duel
between two of the sport’s
most famous names – both
front-runners relying on
Castrol’s competition proven
technology for their success.
When it comes to racing
a sidecar, no one has more
experience than Steve
Webster(above). The British
legend captured his first
World Championship back in
1987 and started this season
having clinched his eighth
title in 2000 at the age of 40.
It was, however,
Webster’s long-time Austrian
adversary Klaus Klaffenbock
and passenger Christian
Parzer who kicked off the
2001 in dominant style,
winning the opening three
rounds at Valencia, Monza
and Donington Park to open
up a sizeable advantage at
the top of the points table.
Like the champion that
he is, the Englishman battled
back to win the next three
rounds with stirring victories
at Lausitz, Misano and
Brands Hatch to level the
scores with three races
remaining. The topsy-turvy
balance of power then
swung back as Klaffenbock
won in front of more than
70,000 fans at Oschersleben
06 Castrol Motorsport News
and a second place at
Assen was enough to take
the Austrian pair to the title
that they’ve craved for so
long. “I’ve waited so long for
this moment and I would like
to thank all my team, my
sponsors and all those
who’ve helped me during
the past 12 or 13 years.”
Webster’s title defence
finally foundered in freak
circumstances when his
passenger Paul Woodhead
broke his wrist after trapping
his hand in one of the bike’s
grab handles. Incredibly it
was the second such
incident of the season as
Webster had also been
forced out of the Donington
race when Woodhead
injured his knee.
The physical demands of
racing a modern ground-
hugging sidecar are vast.
With 1200cc engines now
developing more than 200 bhp
in a chassis weighing just
385Kg (and that includes
both driver and passenger!),
speeds often reach 175mph
and cornering G-forces are
beyond most imaginations.
As these staggering figures
suggest, the human and
technical challenges are
enormous but it’s Castrol’s
ability to conquer such
extreme exertions which
sets the company aside
from its opposition.
Two’s company Castrol rules in sidecar series
Showbiz Maximum impact guaranteed
Road Show.
Brand building
on superbike
world tour
Story Jonathan Gill
The colourful Castrol logo seen adorning the
➜
war-painted Honda VTRs of Colin Edwards, the
2000 World Superbike Champion, and his team-mate
Tady Okada are just the tip of a massive marketing
iceberg focused on exploiting Castrol’s position at the
forefront of the highly popular World Superbike series.
This year’s thrilling championship has headlined at
13 different race circuits located in nine countries
spanning four continents. It’s a high-profile travelling
show that presents Castrol – a dynamic performance-
driven company that’s renowned for its innovation
and sporting passion – with the perfect platform for
a comprehensive range of interrelated product
development and brand enhancing programmes.
Such is the growing appeal of the globe-trotting
Superbike series that it now draws more than a million
fans to race circuits. Moreover it also reaches almost
two billion television viewers in no fewer than 168
countries. And, with so many followers, it’s crucial that
Castrol’s title winning superiority and technical expertise
is conveyed to these huge trackside and TV audiences.
At the start of each WSB season, Castrol plays a
pivotal role in the design and application of striking
new liveries for both the Honda bikes and for the
leathers worn by the riders. Aimed at furthering
Castrol’s highly distinctive and innovative personality,
these liveries are inaugurated by Castrol and finalised
www.castrol.com
Visit www.castrol.com for a chance to win an Official Castrol Honda Team shirt,
autographed by Colin Edwards and Tady Okada. Closing date 30 November 2001
in conjunction with the team and its other sponsors
to ensure the conspicuous Castrol branding receives
maximum visibility thus re-enforcing levels of brand
confidence in the memories of those following the
high-speed action.
To build further brand awareness the bikes retain
the same familiar appearance throughout their busy
international schedule... with one small exception. In
order to stimulate extra editorial coverage in each of
the nine countries visited, one key local publication is
permitted to place its own small logos on the front
farings. Whatever the outcome of the race, this PR
initiative guarantees extra exposure for Castrol. When
either Edwards or Okada triumphs, then the editorial
coverage is supported by the widespread placement
of success related advertising campaigns featuring
dramatic action imagery from the event.
Supporting the on-track presence of the two
pronounced green, red and white Honda VTRs,
Castrol simultaneously undertakes a massive on-event
promotional operation that comes together with
military precision at each and every one of the
worldwide venues. It’s fair to say that every potential
avenue is pursued and few, if any, stones are left
unturned. Exclusive Castrol Honda posters are
produced by Castrol specifically for each meeting,
advertising banners are positioned in key locations,
goodie bags are handed out, stickers are given-away
and signed autograph cards are distributed. Promotional
girls wearing eye-catching Castrol Honda – branded
outfits are also widely deployed to create brand and
product awareness trackside.
Much of this activity is focused on publicising and
communicating the proven benefits of Castrol’s lead-
ing-edge products, notably those – such as R4
Superbike – that are specifically aimed at owners who
want to exact the maximum from their motorcycle and
realise just how much oil can effect its performance.
As a technological pioneer, Castrol knows that that
riders of powerful machinery look to motor sport to
find the highest performance products like Castrol R4
Superbike and never has this philosophy been
stronger than today.
To meet the high demand from those wishing to
purchase Castrol Honda merchandise, Castrol, in
association with the Castrol Honda team, establish
prominent stands at each WSB round which are sited
in busy spectator areas. The range is distinctive and
raises the standard of trackside merchandise to set
Castrol Honda above the opposition.
As well as all of the co-ordinated publicity generating
exercises, Castrol also exploits its WSB involvement
via the provision of bespoke trackside hospitality for
invited guests. This allows hand picked VIPs to watch
the enthralling action from the official Castrol Honda
Team suite as well as to meet the team’s riders and
enjoy a unique behind-the-scenes guided tour of the
Castrol Honda pit. Hospitality at such high profile
events is of paramount importance in the development
of business-to-business relationships as well as in
stimulating publicity via the provision of incentives
and prizes that money simply can’t buy. And it’s not
just at the racetrack – the team’s star riders regularly
visit important international Castrol dealers on their
global travels thus further enhancing the company’s
brand values and business opportunities.
To be successful in today’s competitive world,
it’s essential that any chosen sponsorship programme
is exploited to the full. Castrol has earned itself an
enviable reputation as one of the most pro-active
participants within the flourishing World Superbike
Championship and it’s fully committed to maintaining
its dominant position both on and off the race track.
Castrol Motorsport News 07
Racing around the world
Masterclass
Winning ways
Castrol’s famous
and far reaching
➜
involvement in
motor sport knows few
bounds. With competitors
the world over seeking
extra performance and
maximum reliability, it’s
no surprise that so many
teams and private
entrants put their trust in
Castrol.
For starters Castrol’s
relationship with BMW
goes well beyond its race
winning partnership in
F1. The two companies
have also teamed up to
dominate major saloon
car series. In Europe
BMW satellite teams are
ruling the hard fought
super production class in
the FIA European Touring
Car Championship.
Meanwhile in the
States, BMW Motorsport
is competing in the
prestigious 10-round
American Le Mans Series
with a squad of awesome
BMW M3 GTRs. These
mighty flame-spitting V8-
propelled super-saloons
have taken the fight to
mighty Porsche in the GT
class. And won the title.
Castrol competitors
are also at the forefront
of the V8 Supercar
Championship in
Australia where the
08 Castrol Motorsport News
mighty 600 bhp Holden
Commodore VX of
Castrol Perkins driver
Russell Ingall is fighting
for the hard-fought title.
The impressive Ingall
and his team-mate Larry
Perkins – a former F1
racer with Brabham,
Surtees and BRM and six-
time winner of the epic
Bathurst 1000 – have
been in the thick of the
V8 muscle car action all
season. However, with
three rounds remaining,
its Ingall who’s best
placed to challenge for
the crown. “The fans
want to see it go down
to the wire and it looks
like that’s the way it will
pan out,” remarked
Russell after winning at
Performance Comparison
Tortoises & the Hare
Championship. Racing on
water demands special
lubricants which are not
only bio-degradable but
also able to cope with
engines that run flat-out
for long-distances. What’s
more Castrol’s tailor-made
Biolube 100 also needs to
contend with the over-
revving that occurs when
the propeller lifts out of
the water.
After failing to score in
the opening round, the
Victoria’s Winton 41-year-old Capellini took
Raceway during early four straight wins to
September. establish himself at the
It’s the same success forefront of the high
story on water, too, speed flotilla – the fourth
where five-time World of these victories coming
Champion Guido at home on Lake Lugano
Cappellini is spearheading in front of more than
Castrol’s attack on the vociferous 40,000 Italian
2001 U.I.M. F1 World fans. Despite this winning
08
streak, a crash and
disqualification in
subsequent rounds have
left the Castrol-backed
Assicom Team leader
locked in an enthralling
title race with fellow
countryman Francesco
Cantando. As the
European season draws
to a close, the 2001
championship will be
decided in the Middle
East and South America
with decisive races in
Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and
Brazil.
Like Ingall in Australia,
Capellini is looking to
end his campaign on a
high note. And by putting
his trust in Castrol’s
proven technology, he
has every chance of
further success.