AUTOSPORT International ASI 2014 Live - Saturday
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Lowdon explains the decision to announce Chilton's deal at AUTOSPORT International.
"We wanted to come here to be as near to the fans as we possibly could to confirm Max as a Formula 1 race driver for the 2014 season.
"As a smaller team, we like to think we're more approachable and more accessibility.
"When you've got a massive task ahead of you, knowing that you've got support is really, really good, and everyone in the team feels it."
"We wanted to come here to be as near to the fans as we possibly could to confirm Max as a Formula 1 race driver for the 2014 season.
"As a smaller team, we like to think we're more approachable and more accessibility.
"When you've got a massive task ahead of you, knowing that you've got support is really, really good, and everyone in the team feels it."
Two hours ago over on the F1 Racing stand, Marussia announced that Max Chilton would stay on for 2014.
Now team director Graeme Lowdon and Chilton are up on the AUTOSPORT Stage with KX to meet the crowds.
Now team director Graeme Lowdon and Chilton are up on the AUTOSPORT Stage with KX to meet the crowds.
Rebellion
The final question is about the future of privateers in the World Endurance Championship.
"It is tough because Rebellion and Strakka beforehand have been exceptional," McNish offers.
"Both have pulled performances out the bag that were worthy of wining the race. It just happened that we had a bit more in our pockets."
Kristensen meanwhile says manufacturer interest should be viewed as one of the championship's major assets.
"It's attractive to manufacturers because of the relevance to future road cars," he says.
"In the WEC and the Le Mans 24H you have the chance to come up with technology and to try and convince the organisers you can race with it.
"Of course you also get huge respect in the sport, and that means the WEC is on the right path."
McNish and Kristensen are taking questions from the floor now, and the first touches on the subject of safety cars at Le Mans - and whether three is the correct number to use.
"Personally I think three is too many, because it can split the race very quickly," McNish says.
"In 2010 I was right behind the Peugeot, literally a few seconds, and the safety car split us and he gained 45 seconds and that was it.
"But that’s the regulations, and I think like football they do balance themselves out."
"Personally I think three is too many, because it can split the race very quickly," McNish says.
"In 2010 I was right behind the Peugeot, literally a few seconds, and the safety car split us and he gained 45 seconds and that was it.
"But that’s the regulations, and I think like football they do balance themselves out."
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Kristensen meanwhile has been singing the praises of Loic Duval, who joined the Audi stable two years ago and whom he will partner again in 2014.
"Loic slotted in very well when Dindo decided to call it a day.
"His arrival changed some aspects of our approach – over the winter we tried to make sure we were as strong as possible and he definitely helped."
"Loic slotted in very well when Dindo decided to call it a day.
"His arrival changed some aspects of our approach – over the winter we tried to make sure we were as strong as possible and he definitely helped."
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McNish, who made a shock decision to retire at the end of last year, is discussing his career highlights.
"For me one highlight that always gets overlooked was my first karting victory.
"That was the first time I won something, and it gave me a lot of confidence and also a career direction."
"For me one highlight that always gets overlooked was my first karting victory.
"That was the first time I won something, and it gave me a lot of confidence and also a career direction."
Coys
Just across the hall, the Coys auction is underway this afternoon.
As usual for its AUTOSPORT International auction, the array of machinery up for grabs is remarkable.
A 1988 Le Mans 24 Hours Argo Group C car and an Opel Manta Group B rally car are among the lots.
The auction is happening today, but if you're not visiting the show until Sunday, don't worry. We'll keep an eye out but we don't think any of the buyers will be driving the cars home straight after the auction so you can still see them tomorrow.
McNish has appeared - it seems the quintessential English cup of tea was to blame.
Kristensen meanwhile has been paying tribute to fellow Dane Allan Simonsen, who lost his life during this year's Le Mans 24 Hours.
"It was very tough. He was a great guy, and really just about to break into a manufacturer career.
"There's no doubt this year would have been very good for him. All that potential is sadly wasted with such a tragic record."
Kristensen meanwhile has been paying tribute to fellow Dane Allan Simonsen, who lost his life during this year's Le Mans 24 Hours.
"It was very tough. He was a great guy, and really just about to break into a manufacturer career.
"There's no doubt this year would have been very good for him. All that potential is sadly wasted with such a tragic record."
Audi duo Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish return for their final appearance of the afternoon - except they don't come out together. McNish is apparently still eating.
"He's always a little late," Kristensen smiles, "but only ever a little."
"He's always a little late," Kristensen smiles, "but only ever a little."
Exhaust
Walking through the show, AUTOSPORT rallies editor David Evans overheard a couple of lads talking about the importance of the size of car exhausts.
Having just returned from the Bloodhound SSC display, he was tempted to direct them to the rear of that car to have a look at what happens to the waste products from a jet engine producing 13,500 lb ft torque.
"These are incredible. In-cred-ible," raves AUTOSPORT Stage with KX host Henry Hope-Frost.
Is he talking about a pair of racing drivers? One of the astounding cars at the show?
No, he's eating a Curly-Wurly.
"They're my Mariah Carey red carpet demand. Nothing happens unless I've got one."
Is he talking about a pair of racing drivers? One of the astounding cars at the show?
No, he's eating a Curly-Wurly.
"They're my Mariah Carey red carpet demand. Nothing happens unless I've got one."
Moody has confidence in Ducati's new team chief Luigi Dall'Igna, poached from Aprilia.
"He's gone through it with a machete. Hopefully his rod of iron can make a difference."
"He's gone through it with a machete. Hopefully his rod of iron can make a difference."
Speaking of bikes, here's the full video of his appearance on the AUTOSPORT stage with KX from earlier.
Surtees, the only man to win world titles on two and four wheels, reminisces about his motorsport career, 50 years on from his Formula 1 world championship win, and discusses whether anyone in the modern era could make the transition between two and four wheels.
Surtees, the only man to win world titles on two and four wheels, reminisces about his motorsport career, 50 years on from his Formula 1 world championship win, and discusses whether anyone in the modern era could make the transition between two and four wheels.
He is scathing about the mistakes Rossi's ex-team Ducati is making at the moment as it trails Yamaha and Honda.
"They won't be told. Some people have said 'this is how you do it' and they've said 'we know best'. You can lead a horse to water..."
"They won't be told. Some people have said 'this is how you do it' and they've said 'we know best'. You can lead a horse to water..."
Last month Toby addressed the topic of Valentino Rossi's future in his AUTOSPORT column.
Does he think this will be the legend's final year?
"I think it might be. I don't think it will... but it might be. He's said that it will take him six races to make up his mind after 2015.
"It's a lot of mental effort to do 19 seasons on the trot. Age slows you down - that's a fact. That's one of the reasons why Marc Marquez is so fast. He's 20 years old, Valentino Rossi is going to be 35.
"He's got a lot of work to do to be back up there."
Does he think this will be the legend's final year?
"I think it might be. I don't think it will... but it might be. He's said that it will take him six races to make up his mind after 2015.
"It's a lot of mental effort to do 19 seasons on the trot. Age slows you down - that's a fact. That's one of the reasons why Marc Marquez is so fast. He's 20 years old, Valentino Rossi is going to be 35.
"He's got a lot of work to do to be back up there."
Marc Marquez MotoGP 2013
Moody thinks the Marc Marquez era is going to be very special.
"He is a star. A real star. He's hugely charismatic when the helmet comes off."
But he does point out that the 2013 title race was no runaway, with Jorge Lorenzo just four points behind at the end.
He is also still concerned that Marquez risks a lot with his style.
"I do worry for Marc. He's so confident at 20 years old. He's going to have a biggie - it's as simple as that."
After a rapid lunchbreak, AUTOSPORT Stage with KX activity resumes as AUTOSPORT columnist Toby Moody talks MotoGP.
McLaren test driver Paffett is now talking about how significant the F1 rule changes are for 2014. Speaking from his experience in the McLaren simulator (he's been driving the new-spec for six months) he says the changes to the powertrain and the aerodynamics are a "big challenge".
Paffett believes BMW's success since its comeback (including the 2012 title) is credit to Mercedes and Audi for helping the DTM's organising body come up with a set of rules that enables new manufacturers to join the fray and be competitive.
Richard Burns Subaru
The Motorsport News stand at this year's show is not hard to spot. Largely because it's made up of the Rally GB start ramp – which makes it the tallest stand in the show.
But what really makes it worth the wander is the chance to see Richard Burns' Subaru Impreza WRC – the very one he used to clinch the 2001 title.
It's just as gorgeous as it ever was and peering inside it's not hard to imagine Reading's finest and fastest flat-out on his way to taking over the world in Wales.
While 2013 was mainly a season to forget, Paffett reveals that the race-winning car he had at Lausitz "was probably the best car I've ever had in the DTM".
He's got a lot of data to call on, given that he made his 100th start in the series last year.
He's got a lot of data to call on, given that he made his 100th start in the series last year.
2005 DTM champion Gary Paffett is now speaking on the main AUTOSPORT stage. After fighting for the title in 2012, the Briton said it was a surprise for he and Mercedes to fall off the pace last season.
McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award
The McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award finalists get to spend plenty of time together at AUTOSPORT International.
As well as multiple interviews on stages around the show, they're performing in Caterhams in the Live Action Arena, and also had their official feedback session from the awards assessment process on Friday morning.
The camaraderie between this year's sextet is particularly good - something we can reveal (without mentioning any names or years) hasn't always been the case.
Indeed AUTOSPORT was surprised to find that they were all openly telling each other the laptimes they'd been doing in the DTM Mercedes during the crucial assessment test, information that the young rivals traditionally closely guard from each other.
Speaking of McNish, here's the full video of his on-stage appearance with Tom Kristensen earlier on.
Kristensen was concerned that they had been "too long" and it would need editing down. We reckon you'll want to hear all their tales from many years together as Audi team-mates.
Kristensen was concerned that they had been "too long" and it would need editing down. We reckon you'll want to hear all their tales from many years together as Audi team-mates.
Twitter
AUTOSPORT columnist Toby Moody continues to leave mayhem in his wake.
"Great to have a cuppa with @AllanMcNish...but I spilt his tea. Table needed a winter rebuild."
"Great to have a cuppa with @AllanMcNish...but I spilt his tea. Table needed a winter rebuild."
The 2013 McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award winner Matt Parry is heading out on stage now, joined by finalists Jack Aitken, Chris Middlehurst, Seb Morris, Jake Hughes and Charlie Robertson.
Solberg is now distributing free caps to the crowd again. While he does so, Henry Hope-Frost has to sit patiently on stage hoping the schedule doesn't go too awry.
A passing Toby Moody describes Hope-Frost as looking like "a thoughtful Guernsey trawlerman".
Speaking of Solberg's caps, AUTOSPORT has learned that the suitcase of promotional caps his team brought to the show weighed in at a massive 22kg.
Meanwhile back on the AUTOSPORT Stage with KX, Solberg is reminiscing about passenger rides alongside Colin McRae when they were both in the Ford's WRC team.
"I was scared to shit," Solberg admits, "but you have to learn from the best."
"I was scared to shit," Solberg admits, "but you have to learn from the best."
Breaking news
Big F1 news breaking at AUTOSPORT International today as Marussia chooses the show to announce that it has retained Max Chilton alongside Jules Bianchi for a second season.
Full AUTOSPORT story and 2014 F1 line-up
Full AUTOSPORT story and 2014 F1 line-up
Petter Solberg
Henry Hope-Frost asks Petter what he remembers of the party in Cardiff after his 2003 WRC crown was sealed.
Turns out he remembers very little, beyond his Subaru team-mate Tommi Makinen receiving two pairs of gold shoes as a retirement present.
The two WRC champions donned a pair each and took to the dancefloor.
Solberg is chatting about rallycross legend and fellow Norwegian Martin Schanche. He confirms that Schanche still has a moustache.
Next up on stage is 2003 World Rally champion turned World Rallycross star Petter Solberg.
Henry Hope-Frost's audience question "who misses Petter in the WRC?" gets a big cheer, but Solberg makes clear that he's moved on, even though rallying will always be in his heart.
Henry Hope-Frost's audience question "who misses Petter in the WRC?" gets a big cheer, but Solberg makes clear that he's moved on, even though rallying will always be in his heart.
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The subject of Ferrari brings up two topics for Surtees. Firstly, he believes that had he and the Italian firm not "divorced" they could have won more world titles.
He also said Ferrari makes him think of Michael Schumacher's ongoing battle to recover from his recent skiing accident.
"We all need to keep our thoughts with Michael," he says. "His time at Ferrari was remarkable - he achieved many of the things I had dreamed of doing there."
He also said Ferrari makes him think of Michael Schumacher's ongoing battle to recover from his recent skiing accident.
"We all need to keep our thoughts with Michael," he says. "His time at Ferrari was remarkable - he achieved many of the things I had dreamed of doing there."
3M
Want to get a first look at the livery M-Sport's Mikko Hirvonen and Elfyn Evans will carry in the 2014 World Rally Championship?
It's being put together at AUTOSPORT International right now on the 3M stand, where the vehicle wrapping firm's men have begun to apply the colour scheme to a Ford Fiesta RS WRC.
Surtees, the only man to win the world championship on two wheels and four, reckons someone could still make the switch today if they wanted.
"I don't see why not," he says. "Thanks to the electronics the performance of bikes and cars are getting closer.
"The main problem is the scheduling. I could race in a car one week and then on a bike the next. I don't think that could happen now."
"I don't see why not," he says. "Thanks to the electronics the performance of bikes and cars are getting closer.
"The main problem is the scheduling. I could race in a car one week and then on a bike the next. I don't think that could happen now."
John Surtees
Talking about his switch from two wheels to four, Surtees admits that when he first raced a car he was aiming for gaps in traffic that were only wide enough for a bike!
"I had to interpret the message from the machinery differently," he adds. "The main thing was I didn't know anyone in racing, and you have to know the people in the sport to get the most out of it."
John Surtees is now on the AUTOSPORT main stage, reminiscing about his career 50 years on from his Formula 1 world championship win.
Our first guest of the morning was Martin Brundle.
Here is the full video of his AUTOSPORT Stage with KX interview, including his thoughts on F1 2013 and '14 and how covering the sport on television has developed:
Here is the full video of his AUTOSPORT Stage with KX interview, including his thoughts on F1 2013 and '14 and how covering the sport on television has developed:
Who is the most competitive?
"We all just have a bit of fun, we don't care who wins," Plato smiles. And then all five claim the honour of that title...
Except Plato has an answer the others aren't arguing against - series chief Alan Gow seems to be the winning answer.
"We all just have a bit of fun, we don't care who wins," Plato smiles. And then all five claim the honour of that title...
Except Plato has an answer the others aren't arguing against - series chief Alan Gow seems to be the winning answer.
BTCC
The next question from the floor is each driver's favourite moment from 2013.
Jordan has the obvious answer of his title triumph, but adds: "Silverstone too was great - Jason actually beat me, but that was good, clean, hard touring car racing, really enjoyable."
Neal's is a split decision: "I enjoyed Brands, to get the first win, and then Thruxton because that has always been my bogey circuit. Driving past Jason and then Andrew, who both had punctures, made it all the sweeter!"
By: Matt Beer, Glenn Freeman, Sam Tremayne
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