June 10, 2008

With the European championships in full flow, it seemed logical to run a European Championships of car manufacturers.  This may take people’s minds off the fact that we’re not actually taking part and give petrolheads the chance to talk about great cars from Europe.

Looking at car makers geographically gave me the chance to look at the current crop of small British Manufacturers, the likes of Noble and Caterham who are making great cars, albeit not for the mass market.  Of the sixteen nations represented in the football tournament only seven have anything of a motoring manufacturing industry, and that’s counting Lada as Russia’s sole entry. 

The succession of buyouts and takeovers that have taken place in the motor industry means that there is a less diverse pool of nations to choose from, so manufacturers are assessed as being in their nation of origin.  German and US takeovers are ignored for the purpose of entertainment which means that Sweden have a squad, which they wouldn’t have if we counted Volvo and Saab as being American, as both are owned by General Motors.  It does also mean that Skoda are listed a Czech instead of their German owners.  As we’ve only got seven car manufacturing nations participating in the tournament I’ve put the UK into the fixture list only to have them have to pull out with food poisoning the night before their opening game.  That way we have eight teams competing for that hallowed first place, the crowned champions of Europe.

The fixture list

Germany vs Czech Republic
France vs Sweden
Italy vs Russia
Spain vs UK

In the opening match up the Czech Republic were quite literally swallowed up by the mighty Germans, with the Czech marque being taken over by the VW Audi strike force in the 90s.  The Germans had too much quality and strength in depth to ever be worried by the Czechs anyway.

France vs Sweden provided the closest match up for the opening round, both with decent offerings.  The Swedes have a long history of quality motors that are reliable and versatile, but they were left somewhat out in the cold by the punchy range of French cars.  Offering a wide range of skills and levels of both performance and value the French team just shaded it.  The defensive performance of Volvo was, in the end not quite enough to keep the F1 inspired Megane 230 F1 team R26, eventually managing to out-manoeuvre the trusty estate and score the winner.  There was a decent counter attack up the wing from Saab but it was just too little too late.

The Italians painted a masterpiece on the field en route to dismantling the Russian outfit.  The former communist giant had little to play with boasting only one manufacturer of international reputation, with Lada, and many would argue that Lada cut it’s teeth in Italy anyway.  With so much going spare under the pedal the Italians rested some of the more temperamental members of the Squad, with Lamborghini and Maserati being held back for later in the tournament.  They relied on the Abarth Grande Punto up front with Fiat's versatile Doblo suring up the defence and the sprightly Alfa 156 making runs from midfield, which made light work of the Russians.

The Final match up ended with the Spaniards getting a by through to the next round when the UK had to pull out.  Apparently Rover’s tactical engine upgrade saw the team all stuck at the service station overnight and with little chance of recovery over the course of the whole tournament.

The Semi Finals

Germany vs France
Spain vs Italy

The first semi final sees old rivals France and Germany pulling out all the stops but the French just can’t find a way through the German Midfield which with BWM, Audi, Mercedes and Porsche in, is hardly a surprise.  Up Front they have opted for the pacey Bugatti Veyron which gives them speed, power and agility.  The French have a good back line and the Citroen DS is able to continue despite getting a first half puncture.  The small Peugeot 207 GT gives the German defence plenty of trouble, with it's pace and agility, but it’s to no avail, as the might of the AMG Mercedes proves too much for them to keep up with.  The French have represented themselves extremely well in this tournament but in the end the might of the Germans was just too much for them to handle.

The Spanish came into the tournament as heavy underdogs, only really having one carmaker of note, in Seat.  They do have a wide range of positions covered, the acceleration and guile of both the Leon Cupra Type R and the new Ibiza, certainly gave the Italians a surprise.  But with so much flair and pace in the Italian squad the matchup was settled early.  Italy opted for the Pagani Zonda up front with support from the flanks from Maserati and Lamborghini.  With the usually solid Fiat defence and Alfa Midfield.  Seat's efforts to get through to the back of the Italians saw them too open at the back, and left them susceptible to the Zonda's quick fire attacks.  The game was only really competitive for the first half with the Italians showing too much flair and pace for the Spanish to hold on to.

The final

Germany vs Italy

So with the preliminary rounds out of the way we’re through to the final.  The two tournament favourites, Italy vs Germany squaring up to be crowned Champions of Europe.  Italian flair against German efficiency.  Both teams have pace up front with the versatile M5 Touring orchestrating the German midfield.  The Italians have been saving the Ferraris for this stage so that they’re fresh and ready to go.  The opening exchanges centre around the defences, with so much pace up front both nations can launch constant attacks on the other so it’s down to the reliability of the defences and this is where Germany have the edge, with the dependable VW Golf and Passat able to keep the Ferrari and Lamborghini in check.  At the other end the Alfa Midfield isn’t able to protect the Fiat Defence and it’s sprung a leak.  Surprised by the M3’s pace the Fiat Defence crumbles and the tournament is won by the Germans.  The Germans depth of build quality, pace, power and efficiency proved to be too much for the rest. 

It’s a shame the UK weren’t able to compete in the tournament as there looks to be quite a bit of talent coming through from some of the smaller specialist carmakers.

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