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www.automobil.co.za
August 2022
he Ferrari 296 GT3 represents the future
of the Prancing Horse in GT racing, a sector
that has always seen the closest relation-
ship with customers and the greatest transfer of
technology and innovative solutions to produc-
tion cars. The 296 GT3 grew out of the 296 GTB,
the latest evolution of the Maranello company’s
two-seater mid-rear-engined sports berlinetta
concept.
The Ferrari 296 GT3 was developed to contin-
ue a winning tradition dating back to 1949 when
the 166 MM triumphed at the 24 Hours of Le
Mans. This is a new approach in terms of design,
car management at all stages of a race weekend,
electronics, and even the engine architecture, a
120° turbocharged six-cylinder. A new concept
built to meet the needs of teams, professional
drivers and gentlemen drivers, on whom Ferrari
has always focused. This car has been meticu-
lously designed in every detail and from every an-
gle, in compliance with the new GT3 regulations.
The 296 GT3 marks the return to the track
of a six-cylinder Ferrari even though, in compli-
ance with technical regulations, it doesn’t have
the electric unit featured in the 296 GTB. A 120°
vee configuration with equally-spaced firings was
introduced for the 296 GT3’s V6 combustion en-
gine. This is based on its road-going twin, as is the
positioning of the turbos inside the vee.
The Ferrari engineers have been able to de-
fine an aerodynamic configuration within the
homologation performance window by reducing
ride height sensitivities with the aim of improving
handling and driveability. This precise and de-
tailed work on the shapes yielded a gain of 20%
in downforce on the car over the previous gen-
eration. From this perspective, the 296 GT3 lives
in symbiosis with the air around it, exploiting it
to maximise grip and handling, benefiting gentle-
men drivers and professionals alike.
The cabin was completely redesigned over
the 488 GT3, in response to input from factory
drivers and customers. The result is a cockpit
that allows its occupant to quickly and effectively
find the best driving position, with the main func-
tions always within easy reach. Many controls
and functions have moved to the new Formula
1 single seater-inspired steering wheel, while
the position of the Sabelt seat provides optimal
visibility, both day and night. It also adds a new
level of comfort for drivers of different sizes and
statures who can use the adjustable pedals and
steering to find their best position in the car.
news
Ferrari unveils 296 GT3
lassic car owners are feeling added pres-
sure from sustainability scrutiny and parts
supply to keep their vehicles on the road,
a classic and collector car industry report shows.
Researched, written and compiled by one of the
leading classic vehicle insurance providers Foot-
man James, the Indicator Report suggests that
the classic car industry must safeguard its future
through sustainable solutions and technology, or
risk a decline in the sector.
Footman James’ data within its Indicator Re-
port shows that 47 per cent of its audience is
feeling the pressure of environmental scrutiny
on classic cars that the climate change debate
brings. Amidst this ever-prevalent debate, the re-
port presents owners and firms with the options
available to ensure the ongoing relevance and
growth of the classic car industry, which include
electric powertrain conversions, synthetic fuels,
3D printed components and carbon offsetting
schemes.
The 50+ page long Indicator Report discusses
the future of classic cars during a time in which
emissions, efficient solutions and environmental
causes are at the forefront of modern discourse.
The report also highlights that despite increased
investment in new electric vehicle (EV) solutions,
some OEMs have opted to remake older compo-
nents from previous model years but with mod-
ern, sustainable manufacturing methods, in a bid
to keep their previous generations of vehicles on
the road. Alongside this insight, Footman James’
research shows the growing classic car aftermar-
ket industry is offering new technology for en-
thusiasts to utilise to maintain their classics, such
as 3D printed parts and more efficient parts, or
tyres, which allow for less rolling resistance.
The report, available to download for free,
also states that despite the classic car industry’s
current strong performance, its future is still at
risk. In Footman James’ last news update, it high-
lighted that the manufacturing process for the
Polestar 2 produces 26 tonnes of CO2 alone, an
emissions figure that would take a typical classic
car 46 years to match. Despite the enticing pros-
pect of zero-tailpipe emissions from a brand new
electric vehicle, classic cars are said to be far less
impactful on the environment long-term due to
their infrequent use and fact that they have pre-
viously been manufactured. While the Footman
James team agrees that electric vehicles can be
more environmentally friendly than a brand-new
Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) car on CO2/km
alone, it urges drivers to focus on the end-to-end
lifecycle of any new EV, rather than just the short-
er-term zero CO2/km measurement.
Meanwhile, for those classic car owners look-
ing to safeguard originality and preserve what
makes a classic car ‘classic’, the report offers
more indirect solutions for safeguarding the in-
ternal combustion engine of their vehicles.
Modern technology will keep
the classic car sector relevant
11
www.automobil.co.za
August 2022
industry news
he Goodyear Tyre & Rubber Company supplied essential products for
NASA’s Apollo program, including the Apollo 11 mission which landed
on the Moon 53 years ago this month. The company will continue that
tradition — focussing on lunar vehicle tyres — by joining Lockheed Martin in
its development of a lunar mobility vehicle.
Since Apollo, Goodyear continued innovating alongside NASA to advance
designs for a lunar vehicle tyre. The team of companies intends to be the
first to establish extended-use commercial vehicle operations on the Moon.
Goodyear brings its vast expertise in a mission-critical component to tra-
verse the lunar surface, tyres.
Goodyear is drawing from its advanced airless tyre technology used on
Earth with micro-mobility, autonomous shuttles, and passenger vehicles,
to advance lunar mobility and withstand the challenging conditions on the
Moon. The companies are already applying existing expertise to the project
including testing concepts in lunar soil test beds.
“Everything we learn from making tyres for the Moon’s extremely diffi-
cult operating environment will help us make better airless tyres on Earth,”
said Chris Helsel, senior vice president, Global Operations and Chief Tech-
nology Officer at Goodyear. “This will contribute to our end goal of enabling
mobility no matter where it takes place. Just as important, it is an honour to
write history with this prestigious company who knows how to make giant
leaps in exploration and mobility.”
The Apollo lunar rovers were purposely built for just a few days of use on
excursions within five miles of their landing sites. Future missions will need to
traverse rugged terrain over much longer distances while operating in greater
temperature extremes. New tyre capabilities will need to be developed for
years of durability and even survive the night that sees temperatures of below
-155 degrees Celsius and daytime temps of over 121 degrees Celcius.
Lockheed Martin leads this growing team by leveraging its more than
50-year-history of working with NASA on deep space human and robot-
ic spacecraft, such as NASA’s Orion exploration-class spaceship for Artemis
and numerous Mars planetary spacecraft. The company will also manage the
development of the program’s commercial business operations and engage-
ment with NASA and global space agencies. Lockheed Martin has also helped
NASA explore every planet of our solar system and continues to develop new
technologies for future space missions.
indsay Saker Fourways, NTT Volkswagen Potchefstroom, Volkswagen
Highlands and Autohaus Centurion are the latest Volkswagen dealers
that underwent major facility upgrades as part of an investment in
strengthening their offering to customers.
“In 2021 the Volkswagen dealer network helped the brand achieve a 20,1%
market share. The dealer network is responsible for 75% of annual sales and
the 109 dealers support the economy by employing 5 200 individuals. The in-
vestment by dealers into state-of-the-art facilities is a strong show of support
for our brand,” said Steffen Knapp, Head of Volkswagen Passenger Cars.
The four Volkswagen dealers invested a total of R119 million in renova-
tions and employ close to 200 people.
NTT Volkswagen Potchefstroom, who employs 35 people in the North
West province, spent R43 million on new dealership.
Lindsay Saker Fourways invested R30 million in upgrading their existing
dealership, which now features a fresh car showroom and admin buildings,
a new workshop as well as a new MasterCars building. The dealership based
in Fourways, Johannesburg, employs 55 people.
Volkswagen Highlands, based in Mashishing Mpumalanga, invested
R26 million in upgrading the dealership to include a new MasterCars building.
Autohaus Centurion invested R20 million in upgrades to their facility in
Centurion, Gauteng. The dealership now boasts separate showrooms for
new and MasterCars, an upgraded wash bay with a ground-breaking water
recycling system, a new canteen with a barista area and a refreshed parts
department amongst a variety of upgrades.
Since 2011, 99 of the 109 Volkswagen dealers invested a total of R1.7 bil-
lion in the Modular Concept Design, which saw the dealerships being up-
graded into state-of-the-art facilities. Since 2018, a further 33 dealers,
including Lindsay Saker Fourways, have invested a total of R476 million in
ensuring their dealerships adhere to the new Volkswagen corporate identity
and brand design.
Goodyear teams up with Lockheed
Martin to commercialise lunar mobility
Volkswagen dealers invest over
R100 million in facility upgrades