Arias Pistons 12.5:1 Compression 82mm Bore Honda B-series on 2040-parts.com

Ecurie Ecosse racing car collection sells for £8.8 million

Ecurie Ecosse is a name that will need no introduction to classic motorsport fans. Established in 1952 by Edinburgh racing driver and businessman David Murray and mechanic Wilkie Wilkinson, this racing team is famous for two things – its stunning Flag Blue Metallic paint scheme and winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In fact, Ecurie Ecosse won Le Mans twice – back-to-back in 1956 and 1957, securing two of the three victories there for Jaguar’s D-Type.

2012 Canadian Grand Prix Qualifying: Vettel takes pole

Sebastian Vettel has taken Red Bull’s second pole position in a row with a stunning qualifying at the 2012 Canadian Grand Prix. Red Bull may have seemed a bit out of sorts so far in the 2012 F1 season, but Vettel’s pole at the Canadian Grand Prix on top of Mark Webber’s win at Monaco last time out may be an ominous sign for the rest of the grid. Vettel took his Red Bull round Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve a full three tenths of a second ahead of second place Lewis Hamilton and moves Vettel up to fifth place in the all-time pole listings alongside Nigel Mansell – and his career still has a long way to go to overhaul Schumacher, Senna, Clark and Prost.

Land Rover Defender Challenge by Bowler – the Defender goes rallying

The Land Rover Defender goes rallying (pictured) with Bowler modifications The venerable Land Rover Defender – now reaching the end of its shelf life – may not seem the perfect rally car. But a Defender tweaked and fettled with some Bowler Fairy Dust is another matter, and that’s exactly what’s happening with a new, one-make Defender Challenge by Bowler – and backed by Land Rover – which is aiming to put up to fifteen Defenders in to UK forest stage rallies and hill rallies in 2014. The Defender in question is a Defender 90 Hard Top with the usual 2.2 litre diesel, but sorted by Bowler to deliver 170bhp and 323lb/ft of torque (up from the regular 122bhp/266lb/ft) with a standard six-speed manual ‘box, MSA roll cage, fire extinguisher and Khumo tyres.