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By: Matt Beer, Sam Tremayne, Glenn Freeman

Mario Andretti

Mario Andretti


That's it from day two of AUTOSPORT International for 2014.

Tomorrow morning at 9am the doors open to the public, and there is still time to get tickets (visit the show website for full details).

Guests on the AUTOSPORT Stage with KX tomorrow include John Surtees, Martin Brundle, Allan McNish and Tom Kristensen.

There's also the chance to see the legendary Lotus 49 and 79 Formula 1 cars in action indoors in the Live Action Arena, where they join a spectacular display of racing and stunt driving that also features the McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award finalists in Caterham sportscars.

In the meantime, you can check out video highlights from the first two days on the AUTOSPORT YouTube channel.
Here's the video of Steve Rider on the AUTOSPORT stage with KX, discussing everything from his Legends of F1 series to the favourite interviews of his career.

Last of the stage guests today are Mike Stripe and James Taylor from the Vintage Sports Car Club.

The VSCC is one of numerous racing organisations in attendance at AUTOSPORT International, with all the major British motorsport clubs represented in the hall.

So if you're tempted to start (or even restart) racing in the UK, the show is a great opportunity to check out the plethora of possibilities in all forms of motorsport.
Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa

Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa


Sheikh Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa also thinks Formula 1 can do more for its fans, particularly in terms of access during a race weekend.

"I think F1 is in a good place, and with the new cars and engines there's a lot of excitement right now.

"Is there room for improvement? Definitely.

"We host other races like the WEC, where the access and restrictions help the fans get closer to the cars, and I think F1 could do that better.

"But I think they know what they are doing - they've built this image that you need to watch the race to join the discussions."
Bahrain will host its 10th grand prix this year, and will switch to a night race for the first time.

While that is in part an effort to celebrate a decade of races, Sheikh Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa says that wasn't the primary motivation.

"It is one of the biggest projects since we built the track.

"Obviously it will be our 10th race and we look forward to having one of the best races ever, but it is not only about making it look spectacular.

"Drag racing is the biggest motorsport we have outside of F1 and that is always at night, so we want to link the synergies.

"For us as a people it's easier with the weather and temperatures. So I think it is a better utilisation to run at night."
Ford Mondeo

Ford Mondeo


Among many interesting cars in the Coys auction is this Andy Rouse-built Ford Mondeo Super Touring car.

The V6 machine was raced by Josef Kopecky and finished fourth in the Czech Republic Touring Car Championship in 1996. It followed that with third in '97 and '98.

It's race prepared so will we see it out at Oulton Park when the Super Touring Trophy supports the BTCC...?
Next up on stage is today's penultimate guest - Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the CEO of the Bahrain Grand Prix.
A spot of national motorsport on stage now with Britcar and its 2013 champions Mike and Anthony Wilds and Ian Lawson.

1970s F1 racer Mike confirms that he isn't ready to stop competing just yet (at the age of 68), and that he misses the taste of outright victories, having achieved his Britcar successes in a lower-class Super 2000 BMW.
Derek Warwick

Derek Warwick


Kevin Turner has just had an interesting chat with BRDC president Derek Warwick, who raced during F1's first turbo era, on the challenges drivers will face in 2014.

"The 1980s turbos were difficult cars to drive," he said. "It was all about anticipation.

"You kept on blipping the throttle to keep the turbo spinning so the power didn't come in all at once.

"I don't know how much the drivers will notice that in the new era. I think technological advances mean they won't have to anticipate ahead as much."

Warwick had been on the AUTOSPORT Stage with KX with the McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award finalists earlier on.

As they came off after their interviews, host Henry Hope-Frost joked to the young stars that they should "get him to tell you about turbos!"...

...and Warwick duly did. The six young Brit crowded round him back stage to enjoy some cracking tales of some of F1's best-loved eras.
Here's the video of Caterham Group CEO Graham Macdonald's on-stage appearance, talking about everything from Formula 1 and Caterham's traditional iconic sportscars to its new venture in motorbike production and racing.

Donington Park managing director Christopher Tate is now speaking on stage, explaining how his team have gone about getting the circuit back on its feet since its failed bid to host a Grand Prix.

"The most important thing for me when I took over was to make sure everyone enjoyed coming to Donington. If we get back to where it was in 2005 I'll be happy. There’s a lot to do but we are hard at work.

"One problem from the 'GP that was never happening' era was nothing got done when there was lots that needed to be done. We've made lots of improvements – including some more over the winter – which will hopefully make a difference when spectators come to us this year."

One of the most significant changes planned will be the creation of a huge spectator banking area on the backstraight.
Dragster, AUTOSPORT International 2014

Dragster, AUTOSPORT International 2014


National Editor Ben Anderson is loving this Lucas-liveried Top Fuel Dragster on display in AUTOSPORT Engineering.

Ben tells us it has 10,000bhp and 6000ft lbs of torque. 0-100mph in 0.8 seconds...
AUTOSPORT features editor Kevin Turner is currently on the main stage with fellow KX Akademy judges Jason Plato, Danny Buxton and Matt James of Motorsport News.

Before that, he spoke to Motorbase boss David Bartrum about the team's 2014 BTCC plans.

Bartrum confirmed that he will run three revised Ford Focuses, with a revamped front end and improved aero among the changes.

"The front of the car will look different and we've done a lot," he said.

Drivers have not yet been confirmed, but possibilities include two former champions.

The identities of the latter have been the source of plenty of gossip at AUTOSPORT International. It could be a very exciting year for Motorbase...
Martin Brundle

Martin Brundle


As well as all the exhibitions, event and the Live Action Arena, the public days feature a spectacular list of guest stars to meet, greet, quiz and get autographs from.

John Surtees, Martin Brundle, Adrian Sutil, Max Chilton, Sam Bird and Gary Paffett represent the F1 world past and present.

Allan McNish will be joined by his long-time Audi team-mate Tom Kristensen, talking about both their Le Mans successes and the Scot's decision to call time on his top-line racing career.

The majority of the BTCC field are in attendance, as are WTCC men James Nash and Tom Chilton.

It's also a chance to meet the next generation of British talents, with James Calado, Alex Lynn, Dean Stoneman, Will Stevens, Jon Lancaster, Nick Yelloly, Dan Cammish, Jack Harvey, Jordan King and the McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award finalists on the guest list.
A reminder that tomorrow and Sunday are the public days of AUTOSPORT International 2014. Ticket details are available on the show website.
Dinosaur

Dinosaur


There is an extraordinary array of motor racing artwork available to browse and buy at AUTOSPORT International.

And it's not all two-dimensional either. Spotted on the Paul Oz/Racing Gold stand is this dinosaur skull in Ayrton Senna's helmet colours.
On stage at the moment are Anders Hildebrand from the Anglo American Oil Company and Alana France from IMSA with the winners of this year's Sunoco Daytona Challenge.

The competition gives racers from Sunoco-fuelled series in Europe a chance to contest the Daytona 24 Hours.

Last year's Radical SR3 Challenge champion Bradley Smith is just back from testing Marsh Racing's Daytona Prototype, in which he will be joined by Eric Curran, Boris Said and Max Papis.

The other Sunoco winner for 2014 is Lewis Plato, whose form in the Radical Clubman's series earns him the chance to race a Camaro in the Continental Tires Sportscar Challenge event that supports Daytona and the United SportsCar Championship.


News from AUTOSPORT national editor Ben Anderson out in the hall.

Just caught up with Porsche Carrera Cup GB series boss Marion Barnaby.

The series is switching to the latest 911 model for this season and 11 orders have been made for cars already.

Hopefully the championship can bounce back after a tough time in 2013.
Robert Kubica was unable to be at AUTOSPORT International, but he did record a special video message to play to the crowd.

It was recorded after Kubica started his 2014 campaign with a thrilling win in the European Rally Championship opener in Austria.

You can watch the video too via AUTOSPORT Live:

AUTOSPORT F1 editor Edd Straw has just returned from the annual Watkins Lecture run by the Motorsport Safety Fund.

F1 race director Charlie Whiting was the guest speaker this year, and addressed topics included the death of a marshal at last year's Canadian Grand Prix.

News stories from the event coming up shortly on AUTOSPORT.
McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award

McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award


At 16, Charlie Robertson doesn't have a road licence and had never driven a road car before the two-day evaluation. The first task? Driving the 625bhp McLaren MP4-12C...

"There was a lot of pressure, but I just tried to enjoy it," is Robertson's assessment.

"I take my hat off to these guys - from the first lap they were all on it," says Warwick.
Derek Warwick, flanked by the six McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award finalists - Matt Parry, Jack Aitken, Jake Hughes, Seb Morris, Charlie Robertson and Chris Middlehurst - joins Henry Hope-Forst on the AUTOSPORT stage with KX.

Warwick explains how the judging panel separates the hopefuls, saying: "Laptime is very important, but we also look at how they handle themselves, how they progress – some come out the box very quickly and level out, some start slower and progress better.

"Fitness comes into it too, but at the end of the day we’re looking for the next F1 star so it’s weighted toward the F2 car.

"In one session all six drivers were covered by two tenths of a second, that’s how close it was.

"We were lucky this year because the first day was dry and the second wet, so we saw and extracted as much as we could."
Rider has hosted the AUTOSPORT Awards for 25 years, and is telling Henry Hope-Frost about some of his highlights from the role.

Unsurprisingly, Ayrton Senna's 1991 appearance is one of his favourite memories. Here it is in full:

And he would very, very much like to be showcasing some World Rally legends...
Steve Rider, AUTOSPORT International 2014

Steve Rider, AUTOSPORT International 2014


Nelson Piquet and Niki Lauda are also lined up for the near future, but Rider admits that some drivers on the shopping list have chosen not to get involved.

He cites Dan Gurney as a man he's particularly keen to get on the show, and wants it to expand beyond those synonymous with F1 and cover Jacky Ickx and Derek Bell too.
Motorsport broadcaster Steve Rider is on stage at the moment.

His latest F1 television involvement has been interviewing a galaxy of stars for Sky's 'Legends of Formula 1' series.

There has been some scepticism about whether the drivers that have featured in some of these programmes of late have really qualified about 'legends', but Rider points out that once you've interviewed practically all surviving world champions, you have to broaden the field and cover some drivers who may not have won titles, but who still made a major contribution to the story of F1.

He headed out to America for a day with Juan Pablo Montoya last month, so look out for that programme in 2014.
Fernando Alonso F1 Ferrari 2013

Fernando Alonso F1 Ferrari 2013


Routledge has moved on to talking about the Zoom charity initiative, which involves Formula 1 drivers and paddock personalities taking personal photographs to raise money for the Great Ormond Street hospital.

Fernando Alonso's contribution is the shot he famously took from the Monza podium at last year's Italian Grand Prix.
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