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By: Matt Beer, Sam Tremayne, Glenn Freeman

Summary

Status: Stopped
And that's a wrap for the day. We'll be back from 10:00 tomorrow morning, bringing you all the news, launches and interviews from day two of AUTOSPORT International.

Until then, you can check out videos of some of the best interviews from the AUTOSPORT stage with KX at our YouTube channel.

To purchase tickets for the world's premier motorsport exhibition, click here.

Autosport International

Autosport International

Our final guest of the day is Stefano D'Aste, who admits he is dubious of returning to the World Touring Car Championship in 2014. Unsurprisingly, the increased cost incurred by upgrading the cars is his chief concern.

"For 2014 I will wait to see what happens, because too many things changed.

"For an independent team it is too difficult to run because the costs have increased a lot.

"Sure there is TC2, but running in that is not good for me.

"The most difficult thing is to fight with a factory team. I know already Citroen did many, many kilometres of testing - who knows how many really. So it is very difficult.

"At the moment the only car available is from RML, and I am sure it will be fantastic but the delivery will be around the end of February so you don’t have a lot of time to test.

"Citroen starts with a new car, but it has become an old car because of the amount of testing they have done."
Marc Hynes

Marc Hynes


As well as making a late bid for the most dapper of today's guests, Marc Hynes - the man who beat Jenson Button to the 1999 British Formula 3 crown - has been talking about his return to competition.

"I’m looking forward to reminding myself what it’s like to be a racing driver.

"We have high hopes for the year - it’s a great privilege to drive for a team like Triple 8, and the expectation is to do well.

"I’m not here for a hobby, I’m here to be a contender - you only enjoy it when you do well.

"My first day was like I’d never driven a car, then there were new corners at Snetterton – it wasn’t until Brands Hatch that I started to get back into the rhythm of it.

"The plan was to watch some races on TV to get an idea of what you need to do, but I gave up on that after one race – I didn’t want to frighten myself further."
Petter Solberg is definitely enjoying himself today

"I just arrived at the @Autosport_Show in Birmingham along with my team mate Alexander Hvaal. Spectacular!"
Next up is a BTCC quartet: Shaun Hollamby, Marc Hynes, Ollie Jackson and Daniel Welch are up on the AUTOSPORT stage with KX.

They've already been jockeying for position - four into three seats didn't go, and it's Hollamby who draws the short straw of standing.
Parry's plans for the next few years: "Formula Renault 3.5 by 2015, Formula 1... very soon"
2013 Award winner Matt Parry recalls what the AUTOSPORT Awards night felt like.

"It was an absolutely amazing night, very nerve-wracking until the decision was announced at 11.30 at night," he said.

"As you can imagine, I didn't really eat much because the nerves were incredible.

"It was a massive relief when my name was called, then it was like 'now I've got to speak in front of 1500 people!'

"I went up there with bandy legs but managed to get my speech out."
MABA

MABA


Pre-stage briefing for the McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award finalists: "Line up in alphabetical order by surname, hold the microphone properly, no swearing..."
Backstage suddenly looks like a parc ferme as the McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award finalists turn up, all looking a bit post-race flushed, guzzling water and with overalls round their waists. We assume they're fresh from hammering around the Live Action Arena.
Ivan Capelli 1992

Ivan Capelli 1992


Scathing assessment of Ducati's MotoGP efforts from Moody. He has just compared the Italian firm's current situation to Ferrari's Formula 1 cars of 1992-1993. Ouch!
As for the other side of the factory Honda garage, Moody describes Marquez's effect on team-mate Dani Pedrosa as "soul destroying".
Big praise for Marquez: according to Moody he is the "new Valentino Rossi" - popular with fans all over the world, not just from his home country.

"You only know charisma when you meet it," he says.
MotoGP commentating guru Toby Moody is now on stage. He and bike-mad host Henry Hope-Frost are now purring over the brilliance of rookie world champion Marc Marquez
Chevron

Chevron


Racer and businessman David Witt, new owner of Chevron Cars Ltd, pays fitting tribute to the legendary brand on stage.

"We’re not going to live in the past – we’ll credit it because we have a fantastic DNA, but we’re ready to go racing this year with basically a brand new car (pictured).

"We’re in a wide variety of series and we’ve had some massive success in the year – and don’t forget we also won Goodwood in 2012.

"We just hope we can carry on the name and tradition."
Sam Tordoff is among the KX proteges being interviewed now.

Yesterday it was announced that he will retain his MG BTCC seat for 2014, and he makes clear that after an impressive rookie season, he's aiming for the title this year. And yes, that means defeating team-mate and mentor Jason Plato.
Henry Hope-Frost

Henry Hope-Frost


AUTOSPORT Stage with KX host Henry Hope-Frost crams some research in between guests.

He's already interviewed 23 people since stage action kicked off at 10.30am this morning, and his list of guests will extend well into three figures by the end of the weekend.

His next challenge is negotiating which of the five KX Akademy talents heading on stage now will get the two chairs available.

It's worked out fine - they all stand up whenever they're asked a question.

AUTOSPORT national editor Ben Anderson spotted the Bloodhound SSC land speed record car on his travels around the NEC. The car is aiming to break the 1000mph barrier.
Gavin has established himself as one of Britain's top sportscar drivers, but has done so in the GT ranks with Corvette and has had few prototype opportunities.

That's not a situation he expects to change, but he has no complaints.

"[A full-time LMP1 drive] would be fantastic but I think most probably that opportunity has gone for me," said the 41-year-old.

"I'm a little bit on the older side now. Most of the manufacturers are looking at drivers that are fresh out of Formula 1 or in their late 20s.

"If Corvette Racing were looking to do something like that in the future it would be fantastic, but right now I can't see that on the horizon."
Gavin is also sporting the suavest shirt/suit combination of the stage guests so far today. Unusually though, he is not the tallest interviewee of the day as we had the towering Nick Wirth earlier on.
Corvette sportscar team-mates Oliver Gavin and Robin Liddell are now on the AUTOSPORT Stage with KX talking about the Daytona 24 Hours and the merged United SportsCar Championship.

"You'd probably say we needed to do this," said Gavin of Grand-Am and the American Le Mans Series joining forces.

"There were too many classes out there. People needed to see it under one banner, and now that's happened.

"With the new series, we get to race at all the best circits with all the best teams."
Petter Solberg

Petter Solberg


Solberg, in typically irrepressible form, is also talking up his chances of winning the newly-established world rallycross title next year.

"We have very good people who take responsibility, so things are looking good so far.

"Compared with last year, when we built the car in six weeks, we have a lot more time with the car. We have a lot of new things coming after a big development test, so we are definitely prepared.

"After leaving rallying I drove in LMP1 and we were very fast, but we didn't go sideways so I thought I needed more action.

"Now the dream is to win the title in two different world championships."
Next on stage is a rallycross duo: Petter Solberg and his 2014 team-mate Alexander Hvaal.

There's already some friendly rivalry between the two men, with Solberg admitting of his 21-year-old partner: "With Alexander in the team he is very young, young enough for me to be his father…

"So I am training very hard to get as fit as him, I tell you. But I can't stop driving you know, I am far too young."
Engine

Engine


There are numerous stands offering all sorts of motorsport artifacts and merchandise at AUTOSPORT International.

This authentic Chevy V8 engine could be yours for just under three grand.
Despite going straight into the Abu Dhabi GP3 weekend with no testing, Stoneman came close to winning race two. Now he wants the 2014 title.

"I'm going to do GP3 this year. We've got a few offers from teams, and looking at what's happened with Daniil Kvyat, you never know where it could lead.

"Looking at the average points score, you need to finish eighth in every race to be champion."
Dean Stoneman is now on stage. He recalls how back in 2011 he appeared at AUTOSPORT International just days before being diagnosed with cancer.

"Back in 2011 we sat on this stage and I'd just announced my deal with ISR to join Daniel Ricciardo in Formula Renault 3.5."

Having made a full recovery, he returned to racing last year, initially in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB, then GP3.
BTCC boss Alan Gow was among the on-stage guests this morning.

Here's the full video of his interview with Henry Hope-Frost.

Malcolm Wilson and David Richards both addressed the current state of the World Rally Championship during their AUTOSPORT Stage with KX appearances this morning.

M-Sport chief Wilson remains hopeful that the promotional situation will improve.

"There's no question that we have been frustrated, and every British rally fan has been frustrated, that there's no real WRC on TV in the UK.

"But I think there are now steps to address that, and it's not the same in other countries.

"I'm a little bit more optimistic. I think there's light at the end of the tunnel."

But Richards, whose Prodrive team used to run the works Subaru and Mini WRC operations, thinks the core product is simply not exciting enough.

"Unfortunately the core product - the car - in the World Rally Championship is just not exciting enough these days, and I think that's what the main issue is at the moment."
Villeneuve poster

Villeneuve poster


One of the delights of wandering around AUTOSPORT International is spotting little gems of memorabilia that would be great to have at home.

Jonathan Noble was quite fevered up to spot this old Autosprint Gilles Villeneuve poster on display at a book stall.

Having visited Maranello just before Christmas last year, for Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo's annual dinner, it is clear that Villeneuve remains as much an iconic figure for those who work in the sport as those who follow it.
Still to come on stage this afternoon are 2010 Formula 2 champion Dean Stoneman, 2003 World Rally champion Petter Solberg, four-time Le Mans 24 Hours GT winner Oliver Gavin, the McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award finalists and many more.
Here is that video of Brack enjoying himself in a GT40:



"It was a lot of fun that. The Goodwood Revival is a meeting where you have to bring some excitement for the crowd and you get to drive some nice cars. I really enjoy it.

"The cars are not as fast as an F1 car or an Indycar but they are really quite fast considering they were built in the 60s. It's quite a challenge from a driving perspective."
Kenny Brack is on stage now, and he is talking the audience through the epic video of him in action at last year's Goodwood Revival, driving Adrian Newey's GT40.
Nick Wirth believes closed cockpits will become a reality in every series in the not-too-distant future.

"I think that’s where we are moving.

"I think most motorsport will transition towards closed cockpits, even single-seaters."

AUTOSPORT analysed some of the routes F1 was exploring to improve head protection for drivers back in 2011:

How F1 is going head-first on safety
Here's the full on-stage interview with David Richards, in which he reflected on all aspects of Prodrive's incredible 30 years in motorsport.

F1

F1


Apart from the lucky few who can get grid access at Formula 1 races, there are not many opportunities to get up close and personal with grand prix machinery.

One of those rare chances is on offer at the NEC this weekend with AUTOSPORT's sister publication F1 Racing hosting its annual grid display.

It has pulled together cars from each of the 11 teams that battled it out over the 2013 campaign – and fans can get a very intimate look at the stunning designs of the F1 cars without mechanics or team members deliberately standing in the way to keep prying eyes away!
Next up on stage is Nick Wirth, founder of the eponymous Research company, who will be discussing the important of technology within motorsport.
Gow and Haymarket's Alastair Lewis are announcing a media partnership between the British Touring Car Championship and AUTOSPORT's parent company Haymarket Publishing.

AUTOCAR, What Car? and Pistonheads branding will be appearing on the BTCC cars through the 2014 season.
The British Touring Car Championship's very Australian chief Alan Gow opens his AUTOSPORT Stage with KX appearance by mocking England's recent comprehensive Ashes defeat...
Radical

Radical


Radical launched its latest racer at AUTOSPORT International a year ago, and now it has fitted it with a 3.5-litre twin turbo Ford Ecoboost engine.

The turbocharged RXC was unveiled by Radical boss Phil Abbott and Ford's Roelant de Waard earlier today.

It will go from 0-60mph in 2.6 seconds.
The Prodrive facilities right next to the M40 near Banbury have become an iconic sight for motor racing fans travelling up the motorway.

Yet that is all about to change after Prodrive chief David Richards revealed that the company is to relocate to new facilities later this year.

David Richards

David Richards

"It's been a long process, but over the last three years we have been working with the local council to relocate the company and we have an agreement with a developer to sell the site to Marks & Spencer's for a big retail store," he told AUTOSPORT.

"Some of the planning has been challenged, as these things inevitably are because of commercial interests, but we won in the High Court just before Christmas. So planning permission was confirmed there.

"The expectation is that we will start to move in April time and complete it over the course of the year. It is not a straightforward task as you can imagine, there are over 500 people, with different functions."

Prodrive is not saying goodbye to Banbury though, and is instead moving to a nearby factory that was previously occupied by automotive parts supplier Hella.

Richards added: "It is an opportunity to revisit a lot of the things we are doing. Physical relocation of people gives you a chance to rethink structures, rethink facilities – rethink a whole way of operating. And that is what we are going to do.

"It is going to make it a lot more efficient as a result. We are spread out over 12 buildings in the existing site which isn't very good."
Palmer believes that his BRDC F4 series "has done the job" in terms of providing a good entry-level series for single seater aspirants.

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