Connoisseur Ep 106

Welcome Connoisseur.Another week has passed, and we are now looking at the sixth episode of Connoisseur. I tried to keep this one under the radar to see if I enjoyed writing it before I told the world, and it turns out, I do enjoy it! 💪

What's not to love about reading articles and watching videos on your favourite things designed by mankind... fast cars, bikes, boats and planes? I have been 'into' all of those since I was a young boy, so it's easy to enjoy this.

The eagle-eyed may also have spotted that I have a 'thing' for single malt whisky. To be clear, I did not love that as a boy. However, coupled with the above, travel, and F1, writing Connoisseur is pretty much my dream job.

Rolls-Royce Spectre

Effortless quiet elegance - that's what Rolls-Royce has always been about. And now, they have created their first EV. There is a lot of car which is partly disguised by the colourway I created on the Rolls-Royce configurator on their website.

The Spectre has a drag coefficient of only 0.25, which matches that of the Prius and Honda Insight. However, that's where the similarity ends for this 5.5m long coupe, which weighs almost 3 tons and runs on 23-inch wheels!

The Spectre is good for 260-320 miles of range, and has four-wheel drive and four-wheel steering. The electric motors produce 577hp, powering it to a limited top speed of 155mph and 0-60mph in 4.4 seconds. Just to remind you, this is nearly 25kg short of 3 tons.

The Rolls-Royce Spectre draws on the Phantom Coupe and the Wraith for design influence, with a smaller front grille, slimmed for that drag coefficient. It has rear-hinged doors and, of course, an umbrella stowed inside the door.

BMW S1000RR

The 2023 BMW S1000RR has received several upgrades, including increased power, advanced electronics, an updated chassis, and winglets inspired by the M1000RR, providing an additional 10kg of downforce. The traction control package now includes Slide Control functionality, which allows for two pre-set drift angles. The Brake Slide Assist and Slick ABS modes utilize the steering angle sensors, enabling the rider to slide into corners like a MotoGP professional.

The aluminum twin-spar Flex Frame has been improved from the previous design, with the wheelbase extended by 16mm to enhance stability. The swingarm now has an adjustable pivot point as standard, and the bike features a lighter battery, a USB charging port, hill hold control, pit lane limiter, revised 45mm forks, and a 6.5-inch colour TFT display with updated visuals.

The bike has a 999cc engine, producing 206bhp, and weighs 197kg with a seat height of 824mm. The standard configuration is priced at £17,150.

In the configurator, I managed to increase the price to £29,350, with £4,480 attributed to the white motorsport paint job and carbon wheels of the M Sport package. The standard colours are Red or Black.

BMW M1000RR

And then we move on to the racey younger sibling of the S1000RR, the M1000RR, a bike that is 4kg lighter and produces 6bhp more with a starting price of around £31k

BMW has enhanced their already exceptional M1000RR with some serious upgrades for 2023. The bike now boasts advanced aerodynamics, designed to improve speed and stability. The M1000RR is powered by a stronger, more tunable four-cylinder engine that produces an impressive 209.2bhp. The engine features forged pistons, CNC machined intake ports, and ShiftCam valve timing, making it one of the most accomplished superbikes on the market.

The M1000RR's aerodynamics have been optimized for speed and stability, with the bike capable of reaching 195.1mph. It features a new carbon-fibre fairing with a taller screen, mounted on carbon-fibre brackets. The bike is also equipped with large carbon-fibre wings that generate 22.6kg of downforce at 186mph. The carbon front mudguard now includes brake cooling ducts, which help reduce temperatures by up to 10°C and improve airflow around the fork and calipers.

999cc - 212bhp - 193kg - 832mm seat height - £30,940

I managed to get the M1000RR up to £36,315 in the configurator the M Competition pack being £4950.

Purosangue on the roads

In Episode 102 we talked about the fact that the Purosangue was sold out. However this week has seen a number of videos hit Youtube as the four-seater V12 has been driven by journalists.

I spent one lunch time this week watching a number of these, as I said at the top of this email, I actually like doing the research. And I thought I'd share two of the better ones.

Donkervoort

Instagram was awash with the latest Donkervoort F22 last weekend, just missing last week's episode, but I thought we at least needed to mention this incredible creation.

In the same vein as the Caterham, BAC Mono, KTM X-Bow GT-XR, and the Ariel Atom, the F22's key feature is a high power-to-weight ratio. The F22 has a very devilish 666bhp per ton from its Audi five-cylinder 2.5-litre engine, which produces 500BHP. It will tackle 0-62mph in 2.5 seconds and 0-124mph in under 8 seconds, with a top speed of 180mph.

They say "the F22 integrates ultra-strong Ex-Core sandwich-construction carbon-fibre segments with tube-steel sections in hybrid chassis construction."

Donkervoort is a Dutch sports car manufacturer that was founded by Joop Donkervoort in 1978. The company produces high-performance, lightweight sports cars that are hand-built to order at their factory in Lelystad, Netherlands. Donkervoort cars are designed to deliver a raw, unfiltered driving experience and are inspired by classic roadsters and race cars of the past.

Donkervoort cars are known for their exceptional performance, unique styling, and pure driving experience. While they are not as well-known as some of the larger sports car manufacturers, Donkervoort has developed a loyal following among enthusiasts who appreciate their minimalist design and track-focused performance.

The Donkervoort F22 is now a run of 100 cars (initially 75, which sold out). The car costs £217k.

Watch the launch event here on YouTube, it makes some great watching for any petrolhead who does not know a lot about the Dutch car maker.

Château les Oliviers de Salettes

Imagine you have just been to Le Mans or Paris in the north of France in your GT, and your next stop is Monaco. After driving for six hours, you need to stop and relax. The full trip would be another 3.5 hours (nearly 10 hours of driving). Where would I suggest you take some time to relax for the weekend before pushing on to Monaco? The answer is Château Les Oliviers de Salettes.

Château Les Oliviers de Salettes is a charming hotel-restaurant and spa in the beautiful Drôme Provençale region. With a rich history, the château has been lovingly restored by the owners since 2010. The relaxed and friendly atmosphere welcomes all guests, with 16 rooms in the castle and 12 rooms in the nearby Bastide.

Guests can enjoy French cuisine and local specialties in the dining room or on the panoramic terrace. The grounds of the château are stunning, and the area in the summer is "magnifique". Perched on the foothills of the Alps, the chateau looks out over a wider valley where the River Rhône flows from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean.

The château has 16 large rooms, thoughtfully renovated and decorated with a pleasant mix of traditional style, without being caricatured. There is also an infinity pool and sun lounging area that offer stunning views of the nearby hills. Additionally, there is an al fresco dining area situated in the shade of the trees.

Château Les Oliviers de Salettes is located in the heart of the legendary special stages of the Monte Carlo Rally and the Tour de France Automobile, making it a perfect base for Classic and Prestige Car Rallies. With access to the most breathtaking and well-maintained roads in Drome, Ardeche, and Vaucluse, it offers an ideal location for car enthusiasts. The property offers two spacious parking lots to accommodate cars, trailers, and event car transport trucks. Additionally, the owners have their own private car collection housed on-site in their own mini-museum.

Yacht Shows Diary

If you are considering buying a yacht this year or just dreaming of the ultimate luxury vacation, we have the major yacht shows happening this year for you. Yacht shows are not just about making purchases, as many charter companies are also present at these shows. So, if you are looking for the perfect dream holiday, this list is an excellent starting point for your research.

Palm Beach Boat Show 2023 (USA)23 - 26 Mar 2023

MYBA Charter Show 2023 (Barcelona, Spain)24 - 27 Apr 2023

Mediterranean Yacht Show 2023 (Nafplion, Greece)29 Apr - 3 May 2023

TYBA Yacht Charter Show 2023 (Göcek, Turkey)5 - 9 May 2023

Cannes Yachting Festival 2023 (France)12 - 17 Sep 2023

Monaco Yacht Show 2023 (France)27 - 30 Sep 2023

Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show 2023 (USA)25 - 29 Oct 2023

The proper etiquette for most yachts is bare foot, so do not forget to get that pedicure if you are attending 🦶🛥️

Formula One

Last weekend is but a distant memory in F1 terms.

The teams will no doubt be working on the next iterations of their aero and power packages. I imagine Lando Norris is likely to be throwing some black magic ritual somewhere in the hope that McLaren can turn their terrible start around.

Lando still seems like a boy from not two minutes ago, yet he has matured into what some might say is an equal to Max Verstappen. Norris is no rookie, having somehow managed to stay at McLaren for his fifth season. How did that time creep past so easily?

Mika Hakkinen believes Lando Norris has a "very high level" of talent. He ranks him alongside Max Verstappen and both Ferrari drivers in terms of speed.

Talk in the paddock has been that Norris may well be eyeing up his break clause in his McLaren contract after their abysmal start to the 2023 championship. The MCL60, this year's car, lacks balance and downforce, and Norris knew the start of the season was going to be hard three months ago, he has said.

The rumours in the paddock might be that whilst Norris is looking towards Red Bull, they may also be looking at him. I can only imagine that this is because they put Daniel Ricciardo in a sim against Verstappen and realized how fast Norris actually was. Ricciardo is no slouch, and Norris categorically beat him, so his weakness in showing his true skill comes down to only one thing: McLaren's recent cars.

As a McLaren fan myself, I hope Lando stays, and I would love to see a renewed McLaren fighting for wins. However, if that does not happen, and Norris wants to leave, would he go for a Red Bull winning car, or would he choose to become a legend in red at Ferrari and drive alongside his buddy Carlos Sainz, who made a great pairing at McLaren previously?

Of course, we are way too early in the season to be calling all these things, but it is not hard to see that if McLaren's woes continue, then Norris will be looking for the £18 million Ricciardo got to sit out this year, or he will be asking his lawyers to look at the "performance clause" of his contract.

Great video here from The Race on the troubles at McLaren.

Next race is Saudi Arabia 💪

Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - 17 - 19 Mar

Practice 1 - 17 Mar - 16:30

Practice 2 - 17 Mar - 20:00

Practice 3 - 18 Mar - 16:30

Qualifying - 18 Mar - 20:00

Race - 19 Mar - 20:00

Any-Other-Business

Other dates for your diary

Silverstone Grand Prix - Fri 7– Sun 9 July 

Goodwood Festival of Speed - Thu 13 – Sun 16 July

Goodwood Revival - Fri 8 – Sun 10 Sept

The Atlantic Road Trip

Join the Sixty8 team once again for a slice of Scandinavian supercar action for the Atlantic Road Trip of a lifetime.

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