Eurotuningnews.com

Jutta Kleinschmidt will compete for ABT CUPRA XE in Extreme E. The first and so far only female winner of the legendary Dakar Rally will share the cockpit with Mattias Ekström with immediate effect and for the remaining three races of the season in the all-electric off-road series. “I’m really looking forward to this new challenge, the preparation with the ABT team and of course to work with Mattias,” says the German.

Kleinschmidt, who won the Dakar Rally in 2001, takes over the wheel in the e-CUPRA ABT XE1 from Claudia Hürtgen. “Top performance in off-road events like Extreme E requires intensive preparation, including testing and rally participation. This high time commitment is unfortunately not compatible at the moment with my professional work at BMW, which I live for with the same passion,” says Hürtgen. “But, a change also offers new opportunities for each of us, so I’m happy for the team that the constellation from Senegal will remain until the end of the season. I’m very grateful for the experiences that I’ve had within the Extreme E family and wish ABT, CUPRA and Jutta only the very best for the next races.”

Extreme E is familiar territory for Jutta Kleinschmidt: in her role as Championship Driver and Advisor, she attended the first two events and supported the organizers with her in-depth knowledge from 17 Dakar participations. In Senegal, she stepped in at short notice for Hürtgen, who was absent due to illness, and impressed with a strong performance. “At first, I followed the series from the organizers’ point of view, then I got a spontaneous drive and now, together with Mattias, I’m actually a permanent member of the family of drivers. I’m very happy for the chance to compete at the highest level again,” says Kleinschmidt.

Her race overall and team clothing are already being produced, appointments for the first meetings have been made and the countdown to the Arctic X Prix is on. “We had a really turbulent start to our Extreme E adventure. Hopefully, calm will return in the second half of the year and we’ll start competing for trophies,” says ABT CEO Thomas Biermaier. “My heartfelt thanks go to Claudia, who has given everything for our joint project from day one. Off of the track we remain good friends. In the cockpit, we are repositioning ourselves with Jutta. We are proud that she will be part of our team from now on.”

While Kleinschmidt will already be making her first appearance for the team at PR appointments for partner CUPRA next week, the sporting focus will be entirely on the race in Greenland, which will be held during the last weekend in August. “Accidents in Saudi Arabia, a spontaneous driver change in Senegal – it’s time for us to now have a smooth weekend,” says Mattias Ekström. “We will thoroughly review the season so far, prepare more intensively than ever and try to make a fresh start in Greenland.” After his debut in a buggy in 2021, the Swede will contest the 2022 Dakar Rally for Audi. “Jutta is the ‘Queen of Dakar’ and I’m still almost a rookie. Having her in the team is also something special for me. I’m looking forward to the collaboration and her cumulative experience, which will serve us well in Extreme E.”

The Arctic X Prix around Kangerlussuaq will be held on August 28 and 29.

Spectacular motorsport in the dunes of Senegal: At the second appearance of the Extreme E, this time on the West African Atlantic, the ABT CUPRA XE team collected further valuable championship points with a fifth place and caused more than one sensation on the track: The team from Germany missed the final of the top four by only nine tenths of a second in an exciting semi-final.

After a difficult start to the new all-electric racing series during the season opener in Saudi Arabia in April, the next challenge awaited the team at the famous Lac Rose: Claudia Hürtgen, the regular driver at Mattias Ekström’s side, had to pull out due to illness. She had already not felt well after waking up on Friday morning, but still fought her way through the day, completed the shakedown and the free practice, but was then no longer able to take part in the weekend.

The team sent best wishes for recovery and at the same time welcomed a prominent substitute driver: Jutta Kleinschmidt, who exactly 20 years ago crossed the finish line of the legendary Dakar Rally, just 300 metres away from the paddock, as the first and so far only female winner. “I’m really happy to get this chance in this team and to compete in a real race again after many years,” said Kleinschmidt, who was doing her seat test in the e-CUPRA ABT XE1 on Friday evening. “I have a lot to learn and I am grateful for the support of Mattias and the whole team.”

Too much of modesty. From the first lap of qualifying on Saturday morning, Jutta Kleinschmidt was one of the fastest women in the field, earning the utmost respect from fans, media and competitors within hours. “I’m impressed how quickly Jutta got used to our car and all the procedures – that’s a lot of fun,” said Mattias Ekström. The Swede delivered another stellar performance in Senegal and led ABT CUPRA XE all the way to the first, strongly contested semi-final. There, too, Ekström handed over the race car in the lead to Jutta Kleinschmidt, who lost a few seconds during the driver change due to a problem with the radio. Although the German fought her way back on the six-kilometre circuit and even set the fastest lap time of the female rivals, she still had to admit defeat at the finish by just nine tenths of a second.

“At the moment I am terribly annoyed, because we would have had the best chances for the final and thus also for a podium place,” said Jutta Kleinschmidt. “But it’s outweighed by gratitude for the surprise of having been part of this team and this championship this weekend.”

“This weekend Extreme E showed its true colours for the first time with spectacular wheel-to-wheel duels,” said Mattias Ekström, who showed all his experience and coolness especially in the direct semi-final duel with nine-time World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb and three-time World Rallycross Champion Johan Kristoffersson. “We can be disappointed today because much more would have been possible. But we also know about the real strength of our car by now at the latest – that makes us very keen on the next race.”

The next Extreme E event is scheduled in exactly three months, the so-called Arctic X Prix in Greenland. Around Kangerlussuaq, where the effects of climate change on the world’s glaciers can be observed in a particularly impressive way, ABT CUPRA XE will then fight for the first trophy of the premiere season.

The current Mercedes E-Class is not only fun in the AMG versions. That is particularly true when Sportservice Lorinser adds a few extra horses. For this purpose, the tuner offers its PowerModule “made in Germany” for a fair price of 1,499 euros. And these are available for a number of diesel and gasoline engines from many different model years. The E 400 d 4MATIC is an interesting example. This engine is also installed in the vehicle in the picture, which also shows type LM2R alloy wheels as a “little premiere”. Until now, Sportservice Lorinser had presented this design to the public exclusively on the Mercedes S-Class. Another option are the side mirror covers made of real matte carbon at a price of 799 euros. But let’s switch back to what’s happening under the bonnet.

With 340 hp (250 kW), the E 400 d 4MATIC is a wholly convincing car. But that is definitely not the end of the line, as Sportservice Lorinser coaxes an impressive 373 hp (274 kW) and 768 instead of 700 Nm from the engine. The software of the innovative auxiliary control module was meticulously configured for the E 400 d. And the hardware will also convince even the toughest critics with its highly heat-resistant and sturdy housing as well as the high-quality CPU and plug connections in OEM quality. And, by the way: Even when the original vehicle has become obsolete, the PowerModule can be re-used in a different Mercedes after reprogramming (300 euros). The product also includes an app that allows the owner to configure the power boost or to watch it work its magic.

Lorinser LM2R

The LM2R alloy wheels allow car owners to add visual accents in two different colors. The Lorinser rims are available in black or “hyper silver” and feature large surfaces and organic shapes. The central area appears to be suspended from the mock double spikes like a tent roof. The recessed rim flange and the mock-split spoke ends add additional highlights.

Lorinser LM2R alloy wheel for E-Class W/S213

Design: one-piece, cast
Dimensions: FA 9J x 21 H2 ET37; RA 10.5J H2 ET44
Tire size: FA 255/30 R21; RA 295/25 R21
Paint finish: Hyper silver or black
Price: €800/€822, incl. VAT

Webcon has offered a Weber manifold for the Rover V8 engine for some time, but with two carburettors positioned on each cylinder head this has sometimes proved a little too high for some applications.

Now Webcon has revised the design and positioned four Weber IDF carburettors in a line along the the manifold between the heads, much like the early Aston Martin V8, creating an overall lower profile.

The height of the assembly from the top of the intake port to the top flange of the carburettors is 150mm. The stock air horns are 56mm. This gives an overall height of 206mm that can be reduced by 40mm by using 16mm air horns and low profile emulsion tube holders.

The 44IDFs in the kit are supplied with a ‘starting point’ calibration which will allow the engine to start and run. To achieve maximum power, driveability and efficiency, Webcon recommends that the carburettors are calibrated on a rolling road.

Rover V8 4 x Weber 44 IDF inline – part number PRV403. Price (excl VAT) £3,144.75

For further details contact Webcon UK on +44 (0)1932 787100 or visit www.webcon.co.uk

Webcon is delighted to announce the introduction of a range of anodised aluminium finish EFi regulators
to complement the blue and red versions already available.

The regulators are technically the same as the existing versions but are visually more appropriate for a ‘business like’ natural-metal engine-bay theme.

They are supplied complete with a mounting bracket and 8mm push-on unions.

Prices as follows:

Pressure Part number Price
2.5 bar WFR225 £83.51 + VAT
3.0 bar WFR230 £83.51 + VAT
3.5 bar WFR235 £83.51 + VAT
4.0 bar WFR240 £115.95 + VAT
4.3 bar WFR243 £88.51 + VAT
4.5 bar WFR245 £86.04 + VAT
0-5 bar adjustable WFR205 £86.04 + VAT

Available directly from Webcon and from appointed Webcon dealers around the world.
For further details contact Webcon UK on +44 (0)1932 787100 or visit www.webcon.co.uk

M-Style now has a complete M2 Competition Look Kit for F22 F23 BMW 2 Series.

The kit includes: front bumper, rear bumper, side skirts and all grilles and trim as pictured.

Parking Distance Control (PDC) is available, but needs to be specified at the time of ordering.

Complete kit price inc. VAT: £994.99

Painting and fitting services are available at M-Style’s BMW specialist workshop.
Painting and fitting: add £650.00 inc. VAT
Painting of kit: add £450.00 inc. VAT

The kit is suitable for both the LCI and Pre-LCI models.

For further details e-mail info@mstyle.co.uk or call 0208 598 9115

Mini Spares is pleased to announce it now has shift engagement dog gear kits to supplement its straight and helical cut gear sets.

The kits are available for rod and remote changes with the following ratios:
2.143,1.486,1.195, 1.1 ratios – C-STN40 rod change and C-STN43 remote change.
2.362,1.564,1.195, 1.1 ratios – C-STN40A rod change and C-STN43A remote change.

The kits retail at £2,157.60 each inc VAT.

For more details contact Mini Spares on
+44 1707 607700 or visit their website: www.minispares.com

Porsche 944/968
Gaz now offers a sophisticated double adjustable, remote canister, gas race suspension kit for the Porsche 944 and 968. The coilover dampers are both height and damper rate adjustable. Ride height is altered by means of adjustable spring seats. The height adjusters have a coarse acme form thread for ease of adjustment and the damper units are black zinc plated to ensure that they remain in good order even after considerable service.

The front struts also have elongated holes to allow camber adjustment.

Damper bounce and rebound rates are independently controlled. The bump setting is adjusted on the remote canister and the rebound setting is adjusted on the strut body. The GAZ coilovers come with gas cells in the remote reservoirs filled with a high viscosity index multi grade oil to prevent cavitation and reduce fade under racing or trackday conditions.

All the units are individually tested before leaving the factory.

The GAZ double adjustable gas kit for Porsche 944 and 968 can be ordered as part number GGA038DA at £1963.34 + carriage & VAT
For further details visit the GAZ website: www.gazshocks.com

Leading suspension specialist GAZ has GAZ Gold coilover suspension kits for the Vauxhall Corsa ‘B’ with the added benefit of adjustable camber settings. The front camber angle can be adjusted by means of an offset bolt.

The coilovers are produced with a gas cell in the outer reservoir which helps prevent cavitation. The units are then filled with a multi grade high viscosity index fluid to help resist fade
under extreme conditions.

GAZ Gold units are bump and rebound adjustable while on the vehicle by means of an easily accessible adjuster knob on the side of the damper body.

Ride height is adjustable through 60mm of adjustment all round. All units are individually tested before leaving the factory and are covered by a two year manufacturer’s warranty.

GAZ ‘Gold’ Coilover Kit for 1993 on Vauxhall/Opel Corsa ‘B’ £1,064.26 plus VAT. Part: GGA410.

Also available:
• Roller bearing mounts for these units are an optional extra.
• Vauxhall Corsa – Eccentric Top Mounts.,Pair £138.92 plus VAT.

For a quotation contact sales@gazshocks.com

If ever there was a company that knows a thing or two about tuning BMW suspension then top of the list would be GAZ. It has been supplying, sponsoring and winning BMW race series for many years now.

GAZ has just re-released its popular GAZ Gold suspension kit for the BMW E30, but now the dampers and struts are coated in the company’s latest super-tough Black Zinc finish. The new protective finish will ensure that the dampers will remain in good order for many years despite whatever the track and road can throw at them.

Ride height is altered by means of adjustable spring seats and, in keeping with the theme of durability, the height adjusters have a coarse acme form thread for ease of adjustment even when caked in dry mud.

Damper bounce and rebound rates are adjusted by means of easily accessible adjuster knobs on the damper body. The GAZ coilovers come with integral gas cells filled with a high viscosity index multi grade oil to prevent cavitation and reduce fade under racing or trackday conditions and, for extra peace of mind, all the units are individually tested and certified before leaving the factory.

The GAZ GOLD kit for BMW E30 1982-91 (incl. M3 model) can be ordered as part number GGA300 at £1,064.26 + VAT.
Also shown, solid race top mounts at £127.34 per pair + VAT. (Adjustable version also available)

For further details visit the GAZ website: www.gazshocks.com