Hard shoulder:Porsche has officially opened its new driving centre this week at Silverstone Grand Prix circuit. The centre will allow every Porsche customer in Britain and Ireland to receive expert tuition to improve driving skills and explore the capabilities and the performance of their cars as part of the experience.
"This unique facility is a major investment for Porsche and it will allow us to create a unique experience for customers, said Andy Goss, managing director, Porsche Cars in Britain. "The themes that run through each guest's experience are learning and choice. Learning about their car and their driving, but also learning about the world of Porsche so that they can make informed choices." The centre offers a variety of track configurations and surface conditions on which the potential of all Porsche road cars can be studied, together with the human performance level of the drivers.
Grand Prix circuit Honda F1 team cost €147 million last year
The Honda Formula One team has recorded the highest costs of any organisation in the sport, according to its latest accounts. Last year the team finished only eighth in the world championship but burned through £147 million (€175 million), with almost all the funding provided by the Japanese car company that owns the team.
This comes amid desperate cost-cutting proposals put forward by F1's governing body, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, over the past year including capping team budgets and introducing standard engines.
Turnover at the Northamptonshire-based team rose 23 per cent to £149.3 million (€178 million) but just £7 million (€8.3 million) of this is believed to have come from sponsorship. Last year saw the team introduce a radical logo-free livery on to its car, which is instead covered with an image of the globe to promote an environmental charity.The team's biggest cost is the development and production of about 80 V8 engines but a close second is the £35.3 million (€42 million) spent on employees. Honda will fund the team throughout the 2009 F1 season.
Recession sees major increase in online sales
The economic downturn is persuading motorists to shop online for savings in car parts and accessories, according to online parts retailer MicksGarage.ie.
It is claiming a 48 per cent increase in activity in the first nine months of this year. Online sales of car products in the third quarter of 2008 increased by 79 per cent compared to the same period in 2007.
In a statement, Ciaran Crean, managing director, said: "We've seen a significant increase in the online sales of car parts during 2008, with a particular spike in the third quarter this year. "
He warned that there was evidence that even in the accessory market, customers were cutting back on big or luxury items.