The crowd was at least three times bigger than last year's. We had to park on the far end of the venue and take a shuttle bus to the track. Last year, we parked just a few hundred meters from the track. These CTS-V safety/pace cars greeted us. This year, there are just two manufacturer-backed teams-- Honda and Lada. It's obvious that Honda's budget was significant. Last year, we had unfettered access to the garages and pits. This year, there was a lot more security and we had to actually pay (how dare they!) for the access. I gravitated toward the Lada garage. As far as I can tell, it's Russian with a Greek affiliation. I asked the guys if I could buy a Lada Sport jersey. I think this is the engine of a SEAT Leon. FIA scrutineering bay. A handful of cars were penalized and sent to the back of the grid because their seats were moved too far back (by millimeters).
Here is the view from the Lada during the start of the first race. As you can see, the haze was pretty bad from the Rim Fire (discussed below). Audi has a facility at the track and this WEC racer was on display. It's inside what looks like a huge diecast toy box. The main reason the crowd was much bigger is because they had a stance/VIP show in the lower parking lot. I saw for the first time those Japanese cars with massive camber. There were a few relatively stock-looking classic Japanese rides though. An R/C drifting track. Tom Chilton, F1's Max Chilton's brother, won the first race in this Aon Chevy yesterday. WTCC has two races (13 laps per race here in Sonoma). The first race's line-up is based on qualifying times. In the second race, the drivers who qualified in the top ten start in reverse order. There was also a 911 GT3 Cup support race, along with a Yokohama drift demonstration. This was the neatest car in the lot. On the way home, I saw an all-white G-wagen (including the wheels). I really want to drive one now. The air quality was already bad because of the Rim Fire in Yosemite. It is California's third biggest fire in recorded history (covering almost 400 square miles). Then, this nearby fire erupted and burned down dry grass and a wooden palette warehouse. Then, on the way home, we spotted this fire on Mt. Diablo. It is the geographic icon of Contra Costa County, where I live. It is currently still out of control. That we are in the middle of a heat wave is not helping.
It鈥檚 behind the wheel where the Megane is most attractive though as even a short drive is enough to know the Renault engineers have focused on comfort and refinement. The car rides well, noise levels are low and the range of engines offer impressive power delivery - although lower-powered models can feel a little lethargic at lower revs. All in all the Megane is an impressive addition to this list and definitely worth considering. The Honda Civic has a history as long as the VW Golf, and over that time it has grown from a supermini to a full-size hatch. The latest model is the tenth generation, and it features arguably the most radical looks yet, and that's saying something after the space age Mk8. There's almost a coupe-like profile to the car, while the angular panels mean the Civic still stands alone in the hatch class with its unique looks.
While the looks are a step on from the last model, interior space is just as good. Honda's patented Magic Seats are no more, but the boot still has plenty of room, and passenger space is good, too. Even better is the way the Civic drives. It has plenty of grip and corners keenly, while the engine line-up (both petrol and diesel available) delivers a decent mix of performance and economy. We'd go for the 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo, as it has enough performance for most needs and adds a sporty exhaust note. The Peugeot 308 is a family hatchback aimed at mainstream cars like the Volkswagen Golf, SEAT Leon and Ford Focus. It looks great, has an upmarket interior and feels good to drive, and offers a really attractive ownership proposition thanks to its excellent fuel economy and fast-improving dealer service. While you wouldn鈥檛 guess, it actually shares its underpinnings with the larger Citroen C4 SpaceTourer, but that means it benefits from the same lightweight construction.
It鈥檚 up to 140kg lighter than the previous generation car, and capable of up to 80.7mpg, although back seat space could be better. With its bold looks, sharp handling, solid build quality and upmarket interior, the Mazda 3 has really taken the fight to hatchback rivals such as the Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus and SEAT Leon. Mazda鈥檚 excellent SkyActiv technology is standard across the 3 range, bucking the downsizing trend that many other manufacturers are following. Instead, naturally-aspirated engines have been built with advanced engineering solutions in place to ensure the car is as efficient in real-world use as possible. The engine range includes a 98bhp 1.5-litre petrol, a 2.0-litre petrol with 118bhp and a meaty 148bhp 2.2-litre diesel with the units offered across three well-equipped trim levels. Even entry-level models come with a decent roster of standard equipment. The Mazda 3 is an engaging car to drive in nearly all conditions, with strong grip and nimble handling.