Passionate

www.motor-passion.co.uk I T +44 (0)1635 31658 I E steve@motor-passion.co.uk

Steve’s BitWhilst visiting the BRDC Clubhouse at last month’s British Grand Prix, I was approached by a regular client of ours of maturing years who asked “So whatever happened to your newsletter? I used to enjoy receiving that… a lot of waffle but informative and fun nonetheless. By the way how’s your head of security doing?”

In fairness to his comment, our intention was always to produce these on a more regular basis, so apologies if there is anyone else who, like our BRDC client, enjoys the read… despite the waffle! So having been prompted to sit down and start scribbling, I am pleased to present the latest Monthly Annual Bi Annual Seasonal ‘Occasional’ issue!

BAKU – no longer a mysteryWhen Baku was announced as a new F1 destination 3 years ago, it was met with cries of ‘where’s that’? However, since the inaugural race in 2016 the Azerbaijan Grand Prix has quickly gained a reputation as one of the most exciting and eventful races of the season with 2018 showing a 32% attendance increase on the previous year.

Unlike the ill-fated Valencia ‘street’ circuit which ran clumsily around the docks and its empty quayside warehouses, this is a true street circuit that incorporates the historic city centre, a modern seaside promenade and imposing government buildings,

all of which combine to provide a spectacular and unique setting. Its also the fastest street circuit of the season with an undulating layout, decent straights and slow corners, providing a number of overtaking opportunities (although the Red Bull drivers might question that after their 2018 ‘incident’).

For those with a healthy budget, The Paddock Club is as superb as ever, however the grandstand viewing options are also excellent. Here, unlike a traditional circuit, you step out of your grandstand into the cobbled streets of the historic old town with an array of busy cafés,

bars and bistros, all of which add a genuine feel for the destination and a big improvement over the normal autonomous circuit catering.

So, if you fancy a trip to the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, we can offer a range of bespoke options, including viewing/hospitality suggestions, chauffeured transfers and accommodation including; F1 team hotels just yards from the circuit to the more modest boutique properties, just a short transfer to the track.

Tempted? Just give me a call and we can discuss.

Stop Press… Monaco updateVery pleased to let you know that all our hospitality options for the Grand Prix weekend on May 25/26 2019 are now in place. Our balcony apartments offer the very best views and I truly believe we have the best VIP yacht in Monaco Harbour! Superb grandstand seats too and one or two other interesting options, all tried and tested!

Passionate

www.motor-passion.co.uk I T +44 (0)1635 31658 I E steve@motor-passion.co.uk

French GP – Paul Ricard With its South of France location in late June, its newly upgraded circuit facilities and numerous flight options, The French Grand Prix had all the right ingredients for what should have been a successful return to the calendar after a 10 year absence. What a shame then that the promoters failed to realise that the solitary single ‘B’ road heading into the circuit combined with the badly scheduled Autoroute roadworks, would lead to 4 hour traffic delays for many of the 70,000 fans supporting the event. Having finally arrived many couldn’t reach their grandstands without a 20 minute queue to cross the newly constructed foot bridges over the circuit that couldn’t cope with the amount of spectator’s using them. The loos were terrible and the catering outlets ran out of food and drink by Sunday morning. So all in all not a good advert for modern F1, its new owners, Liberty Media or the promoters.

It’s been a busy season keeping an eye on things at Motor Passion Towers and despite the uncomfortably warm weather (for a black spaniel anyway) I’ve been keeping active. I particularly enjoyed this year’s Wimbledon coverage and have recently applied to join their ball boy team next year... watch this space!

Head of Security... Ollie’s Update

Daytona NASCAR 500 Our normal Daytona 500 strapline of “join us for a few days of Floridian sunshine” doesn’t quite have the same impact after our fabulous scorching summer but nonetheless it’s a great trip to look forward to in February, when it’s almost

guaranteed we’ll be back to damp, cold days and darkness by 5pm.

It will be our 3rd year heading stateside where hosted by Tiff, we’ll be returning to our fabulous boutique hotel in the lovely beach resort of New Smyrna – just 20 minutes from the Daytona circuit and avoiding all hustle and bustle of downtown Daytona with its soulless chain hotels, noisy bars, ‘dancing’ clubs and tattoo parlours.

So if you fancy something a little more ‘Motor Passion’ style join us for quality wining & dining, motorboat cruising, private car tours, oval dirt track racing, chauffeured transfers and of course the best seats in the house for the big race.

Check out the website for the full itinerary. It’s all there: www.motor-passion.co.uk/daytona-500-experiences or give me a call.

Without sounding smug… we had as usual, using our F1 contacts, ensured that our vehicles had special access and VIP route passes which meant we avoided the traffic problems and our clients in Paddock Club were ‘well fed and watered’. My advice for this particular Grand Prix is Paddock Club only, at least until our French friends get their act together!

GDPR. Is it just me?Maybe it’s just me, but despite a reduction in those random ‘opt in/opt out’ emails from companies that you never signed up to in the first place, I am now receiving more calls than ever from random organisations staffed by over familiar, cheerful individuals with the standard opening line

‘Hi there sir, how are you today? I’m just following up on your interest in…’

Apparently, my interests are wide ranging and just this week have included funeral planning, hot tubs and boiler insurance!

www.motor-passion.co.uk I T +44 (0)1635 31658 I E steve@motor-passion.co.uk

As I prepare to pack my bags for the Belgian Grand Prix, it feels like I’ve already packed a year of motorsport into my life when there’s still half of it left to come!

It seems a long time ago that we began the year with our second trip to the Daytona 500. An escape to the sun away from our cold old February and to a different world of motor racing that so many on this side of the pond fail to appreciate. Mind you a wonderful few days were nearly ruined when Steve took the helm of a small speed boat we hired and tried to knock down a bridge… but that’s another story.

May is always mayhem with the marvellous Mille Miglia and then the Monaco Grand Prix which offers the complete opposite of Daytona! Add in Le Mans, which I couldn’t make this year, and you have three of the big four ‘majors’ that our sport offers. Still desperately want to get to the Indianapolis 500 but it always clashes with Monaco!

In-between all this I also took a look at the slowly growing world of electric racing with a trip to Barcelona to drive the prototype for a race series for Tesla GTs – a story that has now had one million views on the ‘Lovecars’ YouTube site which I am currently having a lot of fun filming for – so please take a visit and subscribe to the channel!

Sadly, the Tesla wilted under the heat of the day and, while I’m not as anti-electric racing as people seem to think, there’s still a long way to go before it can replace good old, loud, fast petrol power! The first generation of Formula E cars have now been consigned to the recycling bin and the big test will come this December when the second generation attempt to do a whole race with just the one car.

Plans for some sort of Mario Kart super-power sections of track to liven up the action have yet to be fully explained but I fear the drivers will still be spending more time monitoring each lap’s power consumption than actually racing each other… One day, when new battery technology can give more power with a lot less weight, it will work but I fear this is a little further away than the electric aficionados are predicting.

Scheduled to join the Formula E circus in December is a new series for specially built Jaguar I-Pace racers. Although quite where they are going to find twenty people to buy the cars for £240,000 and then pay the £540,000 season’s running costs to go panel bashing round overgrown kart tracks, mostly in city suburbs, I have no idea!

Back to our first love and Formula 1 where there have been some really dramatic races this year albeit mainly been due to the intervention of bad weather or safety cars – either virtual or real! Silverstone Grand Prix proved to be just such a race… Basked in the heat of our lovely summer, our passionate guests soaked up the sun – and the Pimm’s – in the exclusive BRDC Clubhouse, and were treated to an epic Lewis Hamilton fightback that will be well remembered for years to come.

As I write, the eagerly awaited and ever popular Spa weekend now beckons and the championship battle between Seb and Lewis looks like it could still go either way in front of a sell-out capacity crowd. But before either of them gets any more points there’s our regular Saturday evening dinner with guests to look forward to in the delightful Old Town area of Maastricht – our regular base in Holland for the Belgian Grand Prix! So I’m off to pack my case…

Tiff’s Tales: Summer ‘18

Follow Tiffs regular drives, tests and generally having fun on www.lovecars.com

Passionate

www.motor-passion.co.uk I T +44 (0)1635 31658 I E steve@motor-passion.co.uk

The original and still the best! Our Mille Miglia tour, now in its 14th year, continues to attract both new clients and those returning for a second or even third time.

It’s a fabulous few days and because of some of the exclusive touches remains head and shoulders over anything else available. For example our guests continued to be thrilled by our very exclusive, reserved VIP viewing area in San Marino where our private seats are alongside the President and local dignitaries and where we are catered for throughout the day by the local Michelin starred restaurant, just a few metres away. Then there’s our very special behind the scenes tour of the Lamborghini factory, which is always appreciated as it’s not something normally available to the general public.

Needless to say that whilst dipping in and out of the Mille we embrace the renowned hospitality that the region is famous for, enjoying some fabulous meals and social gatherings whilst comfortably chauffeured in a fleet of shiny black

Mercedes (described recently by one client as ‘looking like Berlusconi arriving in town’). We also stay in some lovely privately-owned hotels, the first overlooking Lake Garda and then onto the centre of old Bologna with its designer shopping and classy boutiques. Arched passageways open out on to grand Piazzas where bustling food markets and busy street cafes provide a unique setting against a backdrop of stunning medieval architecture. Being a petrol head or a well-informed enthusiast of classic cars is handy but definitely not a prerequisite. However if you enjoy and appreciate all that’s Italian, being amongst some of the world’s most beautiful sports cars and like the idea of relaxing and socialising with a small group of like-minded discerning travellers, then this wonderful trip could be for you!

Whilst the Mille Miglia was clearly outstanding in its own right, the itinerary that you had built around it turned what might have been “just a car event” into an excellent holiday with great locations, food, accommodation, hassle free transportation, and most of all... superb hosts!

Fanvision returnsIt’s been around in various guises at F1 over the years – KTV, Kangaroo TV and Fanvision, withdrawing in 2013 over a disagreement with Bernie regarding fees. Well thanks to some financial backing from F1’s

new owners Liberty Media, its back in it new identity as F1 Vision.

A compact and powerful handheld TV not much bigger than an iPhone, featuring a high-resolution display showing multiple live camera angles from the TV feed and various audio options including live broadcast race commentary from Martin Brundle

and the Sky team together with those often entertaining, driver and team communications. Cost is £85 for the weekend hire and a worthwhile enhancement if you want to immerse yourself in the race and maximise your viewing experience. We’ll be offering it as an add-on option with all future bookings.

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