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This newly launched book documents in-depth the story of a car that took Audi to the forefront of endurance racing – Audi R8, chassis ‘R8-405’ The Audi R8 was the first in a line of world-beating sports-prototype cars from the Ingolstadt marque which would dominate Le Mans and would see Audi remain at the forefront of international sports-car racing for over 15 years. If such an award could go to a machine, Audi ‘R8-405’ – the car featuring in this book – was surely the ‘Man of the Match’ for the 2000 Le Mans 24 Hours. In the end it would finish second, behind one of its teammates which had a far less-troubled run, but it was not for want of trying by Allan McNish, his co-drivers Stéphane Ortelli and Laurent Aïello and their mechanics. At Le Mans, ‘R8-405’ led the race for almost six hours, McNish setting fastest lap of the race in the morning, still chasing his teammates in the eventual winning sister car. ‘R8-405’ would race on in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS), winning twice in the hands of Frank Biela and Emanuele Pirro. In 2001, ‘R8-405’ competed for a further year in the ALMS, albeit in private – Champion Racing – hands, with regular drivers including Andy Wallace and Johnny Herbert. Despite its tender years, it would later go on to qualify as an historic car, and a host of new opportunities opened up as it became one of the most raced of all the R8s. Today, the Audi R8 series (of which ‘R8-405’ was one of the first) is revered as one of the most successful endurance-racing car designs of all time, with five Le Mans victories to its name. This lavishly produced book with 320 pages covering ‘R8-405’s racing career in-depth, is essential reading for all motorsport enthusiasts and devotees of the Audi marque. Fascinating and authoritative text from award-winning author Ian Wagstaff and published by Porter Press International is the fifteenth book in the acclaimed, award-winning Great Cars series. This book is extensively illustrated with over 350 images, including stunning period photography of the car in action during its two seasons of frontline competition, and a gallery of studio photographs depicting the car today. The book contains race-by-race coverage of R8-405’s two frontline seasons, as both a ‘works’ car in 2000, and as a privateer entry for Champion Racing in 2001 and includes interviews with the car’s leading drivers, including Allan McNish, Andy Wallace and Emanuele Pirro. Chapters documenting Audi’s motorsport heritage, the development of the R8, the car’s starring role at Le Mans in 2000, the car’s 2000 and 2001 American Le Mans Series seasons, biographies of the car’s drivers, Audi’s post-R8 endurance-racing story, and R8-405’s subsequent career as a ‘modern historic’ racer. The book has a retail price of £69.00

ROAD SAFETY and breakdown organisation GEM Motoring Assist has published advice for staying safe and secure on holiday road journeys at home and abroad this year. The advice takes the form of six top tips covering planning, equipment, safety, legal matters and security issues Neil Worth, GEM’s chief executive, said: “Ensuring that you and your vehicle are ready for those exciting holiday journeys greatly reduces the risk of breaking down, getting lost or finding yourself on the wrong side of the law. “By using our tips as a starting point, you can go a long way to boost your safety and reduce the risks you face while you’re travelling. You can also guard against the inconvenience and expense of being unprepared if anything does go wrong.” GEM’s tips are summarised as follows: Wherever you’re heading, plan your journey so you can hopefully avoid the worst of the queues. Check your documents before you go, particularly if you’re leaving the UK. Know the rules for driving in other countries. Be sure to take the risks of fatigue seriously when you’re covering long distances on the motorway. Check your European toll road prices – and consider a windscreen tag to save time. Ensure a stress-free arrival by knowing where you can park. Pre-booking a space is a great way to reduce anxiety. 1. Plan your journey Make good use of web-based journey planners so you can see how long a trip is likely to take. You can also plan to avoid the times of day and days of the week when particular roads, airports and ferry terminals will be at their busiest. Make a note of any long-term roadworks that could add to the journey time. Building in regular breaks helps prevent fatigue, but sharing the driving where possible is an excellent idea. 2. Check your documents Is your driving licence valid? If you’re leaving the UK, make sure all the passports for everyone in your party are in date. This is particularly important for any children, whose passports last only five years and who may not have been away since before the Covid pandemic. Do you have appropriate insurance? Are you covered for the country or countries you’re visiting? Do you have breakdown cover as well? Run through all the necessary paperwork in plenty of time, so that you have everything to hand on your journey. 3. Know the rules The most basic rule for journeys abroad is of course that you will be driving on the right, not the left. This makes turns to the left more dangerous because you are crossing lanes of oncoming traffic. Make sure you understand the specific traffic rules and signs. Drink-drive limits across Europe are lower than in the UK, and police officers in most countries can issue and collect on-the-spot fines for traffic offences. When it comes to the equipment you need to carry, different countries have different rules. Most require that you have high visibility reflective jackets, a first aid kit and a warning triangle. Some countries also insist on replacement bulbs and fuses, a fire extinguisher or spare pairs of spectacles for any drivers who need them. Make a point of checking the specific requirements for each country you plan to visit, so that you won’t risk a fine if you’re stopped. Under the ‘Mutual Legal Assistance’ system, you are much more likely to be tracked down and charged for offences such as speeding, using a mobile phone while driving and running a red traffic light. If you’re in any doubt about local parking regulations, ask someone before leaving your vehicle. Remember, ignorance is no defence. 4. Take fatigue seriously Don’t ignore the early signs of fatigue when you’re at the wheel. Share the driving if possible, and take regular breaks. Fatigue-related crashes are most likely to happen between 2am and 6am, although there is also an increased risk during the afternoon, when our body clocks experience a natural dip in alertness. Don’t be tempted to press on when you’ve been at the wheel for several hours. Avoid heavy meals, as these can exacerbate the symptoms of fatigue, and certainly don’t drink alcohol during journey breaks. 5. Budget for motorway tolls The European motorway network is excellent and extensive; you can cover long distances quite easily – but there is a price. For example, the 760-mile motorway journey from Calais to Fréjus on the Mediterranean coast will cost you around £100. Toll tags such as the French ‘Liber-t’ device (www.emovis-tag.co.uk) can save time at tolls. Register your details online before you travel and you’ll receive your own tag which you place in the windscreen of your car. You can then drive through the toll plazas without needing to find coins or credit card, as you receive an invoice and pay shortly afterwards by direct debit. Other countries, such as Switzerland, operate a vignette system, where you pay for a windscreen sticker allowing you to use the country’s motorways. The vignette costs 40 Swiss francs (around £30) and is valid from December each year for up to 14 months. 6. Ensure a stress-free arrival The smoothest journeys for holidays and days out can be spoilt if you get to your destination and can’t find anywhere to park. Spaces in popular destinations fill quickly, so make it part of your planning to check you will be able to park somewhere convenient. Book ahead if you can. Check car park websites, and if you’re heading to a specific hotel or resort, check there will be parking available for guests, as well as any charges. Original Article Source: Gem Motoring Assist (Newspress article 04/08/22)

Potentially millions of motorists could be unknowingly getting behind the wheel while over the drink-drive limit. That’s according to research commissioned by the UK’s leading independent road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart, which has revealed that up to four in ten drivers (42 per cent) of the 1,004 motorists surveyed do not know the legal drink-drive limit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This potentially represents over 15 million of the 35 million people who possess a full driving licence in the UK. Alarmingly, only around one in five (23 per cent) of those surveyed knew the correct drink-drive limit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland - that being 35 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath. Meanwhile awareness in Scotland was higher with six in ten (60 per cent) of those surveyed knowing the limit which currently stands at 22 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. In addition, of the 585 who answered that they knew the drink-drive limit for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, less than half (40 per cent) actually answered correctly. These findings have concerned IAM RoadSmart, who are reminding drivers that while they may think they know how many drinks will typically tip them over the limit, that amount could actually fail a breathalyser test. Neil Greig, Director of Policy and Research at IAM RoadSmart, commented: “Our research highlights that there is still a real lack of awareness regarding how much alcohol is too much before it is illegal to drive. We would like to remind drivers that individual characteristics such as body weight, food consumption, gender and metabolism will also have an impact on the reading. This is why we will always recommend ‘none for the road’.” The survey’s findings have also led the charity to reiterate its plea to the government to roll out a smarter package of longer-term measures to help drive down the number of drink-drivers on Britain’s roads. This includes a lower drink-drive limit across the UK, in line with Scotland’s limit to reinforce good behaviour, a fast track of evidential roadside testing machines to release police resources and compulsory drink-drive rehabilitation courses for all drivers caught over the limit.  Neil concluded: “A prosecution for drink-driving will impact the rest of your life through public humiliation, loss of earnings, family break up and a criminal record, as well as adding real danger to our roads. At IAM RoadSmart we estimate that the last drink that takes you over the limit could cost you up to £70,000! If that isn’t a sobering thought, then nothing is.” To learn more about IAM RoadSmart, visit www.iamroadsmart.com.