AUTOSPORT International 2015 ASI 2015 Live - Thursday
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Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of AUTOSPORT International 2015.
We'll be bringing you all the latest news from around the NEC over the next four days, plus as-it-happens coverage of the main stage interviews - which you can also watch live here.
Just under an hour ago, the show was opened by reigning World Rallycross champion Petter Solberg and his sometime World Rally Championship team boss Malcolm Wilson from M-Sport.
Malcolm Wilson and Petter Solberg open AUTOSPORT International 2015
Solberg will one of the star attractions not only on stage, but also in the Live Action Arena, where he will be putting his Citroen DS3 WRC through some entertaining punishment.
He attended the event as a guest interviewee last year and was jealous that he wasn't getting chance to play in the arena too. So this year that's been put right.
For more about AUTOSPORT International 2015 - which is open to the public on Saturday and Sunday after today and tomorrow's trade days - take a look at the show website.
He attended the event as a guest interviewee last year and was jealous that he wasn't getting chance to play in the arena too. So this year that's been put right.
For more about AUTOSPORT International 2015 - which is open to the public on Saturday and Sunday after today and tomorrow's trade days - take a look at the show website.
Our host for the weekend Henry Hope-Frost has just been out on stage to welcome the growing crowd, and in a few minutes he'll be joined by our first interviewees of the day: M-Sport chief Malcolm Wilson and World Rally Championship drivers Elfyn Evans and Sander Parn.
Ford
Evans' car for the season is among the line-up at the front of the stage, but the M-Sport Ford Fiesta RS WRC - resplendent in its new 2015 livery - is only here for Thursday and Friday...
...that's because it's one of the team's actual Monte Carlo Rally machines and it has to head southwards at the weekend ready for the 2015 WRC season-opener next week.
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Wilson's lead driver Mikko Hirvonen was fourth in last year's WRC - best of those not in Volkswagens - but has now retired from the sport, leaving the M-Sport chief with mixed feelings:
"We didn't really see it coming, but I think it's very easy to see when he made that decision, because the events afterwards were his two best in the championship. After that, the pressure was off," says Wilson of Hirvonen.
"It's a shame - we're losing a really top-class driver out of the championship, he's 34 and was the best non-VW driver.
"But he's got other things he wants to do in life and I respect that."
"We didn't really see it coming, but I think it's very easy to see when he made that decision, because the events afterwards were his two best in the championship. After that, the pressure was off," says Wilson of Hirvonen.
"It's a shame - we're losing a really top-class driver out of the championship, he's 34 and was the best non-VW driver.
"But he's got other things he wants to do in life and I respect that."
Hope-Frost asks Evans whether having a famous rallying father in 1997 British champion Gwyndaf adds pressure. Elfyn shrugs that off, but says having his "very analytical" Welsh legend dad still on hand is certainly handy.
Estonian 22-year-old Parn is talking about his 2015 programme, which will be a WRC2 assault in an M-Sport Ford Fiesta R2. That's his prize for winning last year's Drive DMACK Fiesta Trophy.
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Parn's countryman Ott Tanak is back in the M-Sport Ford line-up for 2015, three years after his first top-class chance didn't go quite as planned.
Hope-Frost asks Wilson if this is Tanak's last chance?
"I would say probably, yes it could end up being his last chance," Wilson replies.
"But we've seen a completely different Ott to two years ago with the way he's developed.
"I really believe he's going to deliver some strong results in the second half of the year."
Hope-Frost asks Wilson if this is Tanak's last chance?
"I would say probably, yes it could end up being his last chance," Wilson replies.
"But we've seen a completely different Ott to two years ago with the way he's developed.
"I really believe he's going to deliver some strong results in the second half of the year."
And with Hirvonen gone and Tanak reacclimatising to the top class, 25-year-old WRC sophomore Evans is effectively M-Sport team leader. He says he certainly feels much more established than he did when heading to Monte Carlo as a rookie 12 months ago.
"Heading into Monte Carlo this year is a totally different feeling now I've built confidence and familiarity with the car."
"Heading into Monte Carlo this year is a totally different feeling now I've built confidence and familiarity with the car."
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Evans says his target this year is podiums:
"I think we showed glimpses of the speed we needed to secure that sort of result.
"With a bit more consistency, I don't any reason why not - particularly on the Tarmac rounds, but I want one on gravel too."
"I think we showed glimpses of the speed we needed to secure that sort of result.
"With a bit more consistency, I don't any reason why not - particularly on the Tarmac rounds, but I want one on gravel too."
Bentley
M-Sport has also added the factory Bentley GT programme to its activities, with Wilson delighted by a first year that included race wins in the Blancpain Endurance Series.
He admits that when Bentley motorsport chief Brian Gush first asked M-Sport to get involved, there were a few circuit racing nuances to get to grips with...
"I'm embarrassed to say that when he mentioned it, I didn't know what GT3 was because we'd been 100 per cent rally," says Wilson.
Next on stage is Ben Taylor, head of the Motor Sport Association's sporting arm IMS, to talk about prospects for British motor racing in 2015.
Taylor kicks off by paying tribute to the British hat-trick of champions on the Formula 1 ladder, with Lewis Hamilton backed up by GP2 and GP3 title winners Jolyon Palmer and Alex Lynn.
Speaking of Lynn, he's heading to Palmer's title-winning DAMS team for GP2 in 2015, alongside Formula Renault 3.5 runner-up Pierre Gasly.
DAMS signs Lynn and Gasly for 2015 GP2
Speaking of Lynn, he's heading to Palmer's title-winning DAMS team for GP2 in 2015, alongside Formula Renault 3.5 runner-up Pierre Gasly.
DAMS signs Lynn and Gasly for 2015 GP2
Taylor is now talking about the huge range of opportunities for amateurs to take part in British motorsport.
And if you want to race or rally in the UK this season, AUTOSPORT International is the place to be this weekend, with all the major organising clubs and championships present so you can find out more about what's out there.
As Taylor says, many F1 fans don't realise how much fun is on offer "with a Peugeot 106 on an airfield racing round some traffic cones for £20".
And if you want to race or rally in the UK this season, AUTOSPORT International is the place to be this weekend, with all the major organising clubs and championships present so you can find out more about what's out there.
As Taylor says, many F1 fans don't realise how much fun is on offer "with a Peugeot 106 on an airfield racing round some traffic cones for £20".
Rally GB is next on the topic list, with Taylor and Hope-Frost agreeing that the move from south to north Wales has been a huge success for Britain's WRC round as crowds returned to the stages in droves in 2014.
Moving onto Formula 1 next, with Williams technical chief Pat Symonds about to take to the stage, watch his interview live here.
Among the topics Pat Symonds is keen to talk about is the new AUTOSPORT Williams Engineer of the Future Award that will be presented from this year's AUTOSPORT Awards.
Here are more details about a scheme will fast-track a young engineering student into F1 with the legendary Williams team:
AUTOSPORT Williams Engineer of the Future Award
Here are more details about a scheme will fast-track a young engineering student into F1 with the legendary Williams team:
AUTOSPORT Williams Engineer of the Future Award
Petter Solberg
Next on stage is World Rallycross champion (and 2003 World Rally champion) Petter Solberg.
The irrepressible Norwegian has already been busy this morning, here he is taking part in a pitstop challenge on the Alcatel stand.
It's straight into rallycross chat for Hope-Frost and Solberg, and our host points out that RX champion Solberg has done rather better in his new category than WRC legend Sebastien Loeb, who didn't reach the final on his European RX one-off in 2013.
"To be fair, when he came there it was not prepared and the car and set-up was not right, so it's not fair to compare," says Solberg of Loeb.
"Loeb is an unbelievable driver - but it's still true that whatever you do you have to put in 110 per cent effort because everyone wants to win and there are a lot of people with a lot of experience in rallycross."
"To be fair, when he came there it was not prepared and the car and set-up was not right, so it's not fair to compare," says Solberg of Loeb.
"Loeb is an unbelievable driver - but it's still true that whatever you do you have to put in 110 per cent effort because everyone wants to win and there are a lot of people with a lot of experience in rallycross."
Nifty touch from Solberg, whose shirt has branding from his PSRX team on the collars so he can wear a cosy jumper over the top (required on a miserable day in Birmingham) and still be promoting his squad.
Although Solberg admits that rallying through the forests in the WRC "gives you an unbelievable kick", he is effusive with praise for rallycross, the ever-rising quality of the field, and promoter IMG's efforts with the burgeoning world championship.
Solberg confirms that he will do "some rallies" in 2015, starting with a Swedish national event next week with his 13-year-old son co-driving.
Hope-Frost asks the WRC question too... "Maybe it can happen in a couple of rallies. As long as you get proper testing and a good plan, and don't just go there to fill up the start list, then I'm ready," Solberg replies.
Hope-Frost asks the WRC question too... "Maybe it can happen in a couple of rallies. As long as you get proper testing and a good plan, and don't just go there to fill up the start list, then I'm ready," Solberg replies.
Pat Symonds
While Solberg reminisces about beating Loeb to the 2003 WRC title in a nail-biting championship decider, our last interviewee Pat Symonds is now sat backstage being quizzed by AUTOSPORT magazine editor EDD STRAW. What are they chatting about? Keep an eye on AUTOSPORT magazine and .com over the coming weeks to find out...
Solberg is teasing his plans for the Live Action Arena, saying he has some "special plans" with stunt driver Terry Grant, and that he's added some more power to his Citroen DS3 WRC - "450hp should be enough to smoke the arena out".
A quick pause now, but in 15 minutes' time we'll have a very big British Touring Car Championship announcement on the stage, as WSR reveals the identity of its second driver for 2015.
Lola T70
Our reporters are busy around the hall, whether news-gathering, interviewing for features, catching up with contacts, or checking out the amazing array of exhibits.
This "Fabulous ex-Jerry Crawford Lola T70" caught AUTOSPORT/F1 Racing executive editor STUART CODLING's eye on the Silverstone Classics stand.
A very big name in touring car circles has just arrived backstage...
We can confirm that WSR's new 2015 BTCC signing is looking sharp in a natty jacket behind us. He'll be revealed on stage, along with his car livery, shortly.
WSR team boss Dick Bennetts has joined Henry Hope-Frost on stage to talk about winning the 2014 title with Colin Turkington, before announcing the identity of his latest signing for this year.
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Hope-Frost asks Bennetts about the rows over the alleged advantage his rear-wheel-drive BMWs had last year, and front-wheel-drive MG rival Jason Plato's vehement protestations.
"We had a certain other tough competitor giving us a hard time in Jason, but he texted me one night to say 'don't worry, it's just my PR side coming out, you're doing a brilliant job' - but then he kept on saying it all anyway!"
"We had a certain other tough competitor giving us a hard time in Jason, but he texted me one night to say 'don't worry, it's just my PR side coming out, you're doing a brilliant job' - but then he kept on saying it all anyway!"
Bennetts also underlines that WSR is very much an independent, relative underdog, team.
"We're very much privateer. We look like a big team, but believe me, we're not. There are only nine of us full-time."
He does add that BMW lends him some decent road cars.
"We're very much privateer. We look like a big team, but believe me, we're not. There are only nine of us full-time."
He does add that BMW lends him some decent road cars.
And now for the announcement of the second driver. We already know that Sam Tordoff has moved across from MG, who'll be joining him in the second of the three WSR BMWs...?
Breaking news
And out comes Andy Priaulx - the three-time World Touring Car and one-time European Touring Car champion is back to the BTCC for 2015.
Priaulx thinks he has plenty of time to add BTCC titles to his CV, suggesting he's "only 25, although I look a bit tired..." and adding that Gabriele Tarquini became WTCC champion at 50.
Watch Priaulx's announcement interview live on stage here.
Watch Priaulx's announcement interview live on stage here.
Now Bennetts and Priaulx are unveiling their livery for 2015, and here it is:
See that car in the flesh on the AUTOSPORT main stage here all weekend.
Quick pause in the interview now while Priaulx takes a 'selife' with himself, his new boss and his new car.
By: AUTOSPORT staff
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