All the latest from ESM’s BTCC Correspondent, with his comprehensive roundup of the action from Thruxton. Honda’s Dominance Continues. Honda’s dominance of the 2013 British Touring Car Championship continued at Thruxton last weekend. Honda continued their impressive form from Donington, where they occupied 7 of the 9 podium positions, with 6 of the 9…
New Volkswagen up! Special Editions
EngageSportMode is a genuine fan of the Volkswagen up!. When we tested the base-model Take up! last year, we were hugely impressed with its value for money, perky performance and VW quality. We suggested that should you want a new city-car, you had no other viable option. It’s also worth pointing out that we were…
BTCC 2013 Round 2 – Donington Review
ESM’s BTCC correspondent dishes out his review of the action-packed second round of this year’s season: Honda’s Donington Dominance Stopped by Turkington! Last weekend saw the second round of 2013’s British Touring Car Championship at Donington Park. The hills surrounding the circuit still look like huge quarry mud banks due to the works to upgrade…
BMW M6 Gran Coupe – Dial M for Marketing?
EngageSportMode has a little bit of a love/hate relationship with BMW. Hate is, probably, too strong a word. Instead try an underlying suspicion that it is selling its values up the river slightly. For every car such as the 1M Coupe, M135i or Z4 comes something like the X6, 5-Series GT or 6-Series Gran Coupe….
Friday Photo From the Archives #5
Continuing with the theme of ESM’s BTCC correspondent, here is a (fairly) recent photo of our two cars chilling out together: A few similarities; both black, both VW-group, both petrol-turbo and both with motorsport pedigree. Our correspondent’s is the rather rare Seat Leon TFSI, which existed for only a short period of time in the…
BTCC 2013 Round 2 – Donington Preview
Ahead of this weekend’s second round of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, ESM’s reliable expert gives us the latest news: This weekend sees the next instalment from the BTCC with the parade visiting the Leicestershire circuit, Donington Park. There have been several ‘upgrades’ to Donington since the supposed change of the British Grand…
BTCC 2013 Round 1 – Brands Hatch Indy Review
The opening weekend of the 2013 BTCC season produced a similar pattern to what we have become accustomed to over recent seasons. Jason Plato showed that the winter break had hardly stopped his charge for titles as he raced off to score 2 race victories, with old adversary Matt Neal taking victory in Race 3….
EngageSportMode’s 2013 BTCC Predictions
ESM’s BTCC correspondent is very excited. Check out his comprehensive guide to this seasons runners and riders, along with his predictions for which ones to keep your eye on. After a long winter, I am delighted to see the return of the BTCC this weekend. I am really excited about the forthcoming season for various…
BTCC Update – Final Pre Season Round Up
With the first race of the BTCC less than a day away, ESM’s BTCC correspondent brings you the latest last-minute news. Following the BTCC Media Day last week, there was an official test with the times charts topped by Andrew Jordan. However, Jason Plato and reigning champion Gordon Sheddon were not far behind him. An…
A Girl Writes – It’s a Boy/Girl Thing
In the first of her articles for EngageSportMode, ESM’s OH discusses whether or not there is such a thing as a “girl’s car”. During ESM’s recent and well documented quest for his new investment, there have been mutterings, generally from ESM’s Mate Steve, about “girl’s cars” and which models ESM should avoid, lest he be…
VW Polo R-Line – 1,000 Mile Review
As you might have just read, after a huge period of indecision, ESM finally acquired a Volkswagen Polo R-Line. That was back in late January so, several months and miles later, just what has the kitted-up supermini been like to live with? First, some photos from when it arrived and the cleanest it has been…
ESM’s 2012 Car Buying Predicament #6 – The Finale
Recently I wrote about the end of my ownership of the 9N3 Volkswagen Polo, following the epically long saga to replace it which began all the way back in October last year. So after several months of searching, test driving and negotiating, just what did land on the EngageSportMode drive? Originally when my quest began I…
EngageSportMode 