The BMW X7 business case depended on the booming U.S. SUV market

If you live in America, you are fully aware of the almost clinical SUV craze. Us ‘Mericans love our SUVs and big crossovers. So much so, in fact, that traditional car customers are jumping up to SUVs without the actual need for the extra size. It’s this desire for SUVs that’s caused BMW to decided to develop the much larger BMW X7.

“There are people moving from the 3 Series sedan into the X3,” said BMW CEO Harald Krüger at the launch of the X3. “Most of the customers never come back and are loyal to these [SUVs].” In fact, car sales for BMW are down so far this year, while SUV sales are up. “They enjoy the seating position, they enjoy the overview of the traffic, they enjoy the functionality, they enjoy the ride over rough areas,” said Krüger.

What’s interesting is the discord between that customers want and what enthusiasts want. We’d like to think those two are the same, they aren’t. Evidence of that is the BMW X1. American enthusiasts bemoaned the introduction of the new X1, as it’s the first front-wheel drive-based BMW to be sold in the ‘States. However, customers are loving it and it’s selling like crazy. “We were surprised by the success of the X1,” Krüger said. “You normally think in the U.S. of the X1 as small car, but we are selling big numbers of the X1 already.”

But Americans want something bigger. Sales of the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class have consistently been good. “For the U.S. market the new X7 will be very important, because we haven’t had a product in that segment so far,” said Krüger. It is surprising that Mercedes has had a car in that segment for some time but it’s taken BMW until now to do so. Now, though, the BMW X7 will occupy that segment for BMW and will likely be the Bavarian brand’s most popular high-end model.

This will help BMW, as sales of the 7 Series have been underwhelming since its debut. But Americans love them some SUVs, so the X7 will likely boost high-end BMW sales quite a bit. So while BMW hasn’t had a car in this segment until now, it’s coming at the right time.

[Source: Motor1]

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Autocar drives the ALPINA B5 Touring

BMW hasn’t made an M5 Touring since the E60-generation, something us fans enjoy bemoaning. While BMW doesn’t feel such a car’s demand warrants production, the folks at ALPINA seem to feel otherwise. So if it’s a hot 5 Series wagon that you want, the ALPINA B5 Touring is for you.

Autocar was recently one of the very few publications invited to drive the new B5 Touring on the famous Bilster-Berg race track. While ALPINA actually does very little track testing for its cars, preferring to test on the road instead, the new B5 Touring isn’t road legal just yet, so journalists had to drive in on track. You might not think the track is the best place to test an ALPINA, as they’re usually more comfortable and luxurious cars than track-based performance machines, you’d be surprised at how well it responded.

The ALPINA B5 Touring is based on the standard BMW 5 Series Touring but is so much more than that. Under its hood lies a variant of the same 4.4 liter twin-turbocharged V8 from the BMW 750i. Except, for B5-duty, it makes 600 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque, thanks to new internals and beefier turbochargers. When paired with an eight-speed automatic, sourced by ZF but tuned by ALPINA to be stronger and faster, and all-wheel drive, the B5 Touring is capable of 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds. That’s properly quick but what’s even more impressive is that it can top out at 202 mph. So it’s a 200 mph wagon…

But it isn’t just straight-line speed. ALPINA has thoroughly-revised the suspension and steering to make sure the B5 Touring drives exactly as they want and not just like another 5 Series. So not only does it get new suspension but revised suspension geometry. ALPINA has fit entirely new front wishbones that give in an extra degree of negative camber. There’s also been revisions to the steering calibration and the rear-wheel steering.

On the track, if you’re deliberate with it and not trying to go 10/10ths, it’s an incredibly neutral-driving car. It’s also far more capable and enjoyable than you might expect such a big heavy car to be. If you try and push it as if it were an M car, it will understeer. But if you stay patient on corner entry, make smooth and deliberate steering inputs and use the power to pull you out of corners, it can be very fun.

We can’t wait for the ALPINA B5 Touring to finally be ready for the road, even though we don’t get it here in America. But the fact that there’s a 200 mph wagon based on a BMW out there in the world makes us happy.

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Heroes of Bavaria: 75 Years of BMW Motorsport

A few weeks ago, the BMW Car Club of America Foundation opened their first big public exhibition at the Museum & Archive in South Carolina. It’s entitled Heroes of Bavaria: 75 Years of BMW Motorsport and consists of 22 historic (and iconic) BMW race machines in the building – From the BMW 328 roadster than won at Zandvoort in 1939, to the Z4 GTLM car that raced in 2014.

And of course, most things in between, including the racing CSLs, TiSA, the LeMans winning V12 LMR, M1 ProCar, David Hobbs’ ridiculous M1-C Prototype, Formula 1, Formula 2, Formula BMW, the first BMW to ever win a sanctioned race in North America (a Miller-Norburn 2002), and the list goes on. Opening day for the exhibition was sold out, with 400+ in attendance.

This particular exhibition will be in place through at least August, with a possible extension into December. In 2018 – the 50th anniversary of the 2002’s launch in the United States- BMW CCA will have a blow-out exhibition on all things 2002.

The BMW Performance Center is directly next door and the plant for the X-vehicles is directly across the street, so visitors can spend some time at those locations as well.

[Photos: Jon van Woerden Photography]

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10 millionth BMW 5 Series Dingolfing edition auctioned in South Korea

BMW Group Korea announced that the BMW 5 Series Dingolfing Edition, the 10 millionth car from Plant Dingolfing in Germany, has been auctioned off at 75 million won (60,000 euro) in Seoul Auction, Korea’s largest fine art auction company. This is the first time in the automotive industry that a limited edition is sold at an auction in Korea.

The 10 millionth vehicle that was introduced at the 50th year ceremony of the Plant Dingolfing was the new 5 Series. Based on the new BMW 520d model, the Dingolfing Edition is engraved with “10 millionth Edition” badge on the interior parts including panel covers and center console.

For the successful bidder, BMW Group Korea provides an extended BSI (BMW Service Inclusive) that covers major consumable parts or periodical inspection of the vehicle for eight years or up to 160,000 km free of charge and 10 million won (8,000 euro) worth tour package for two people to tour the BMW Welt, BMW Museum, and the Dingolfing Plant in Germany.

Also, a special vehicle delivery ceremony will also be held at the BMW Driving Center in Incheon, Korea.

[Source: Automotive World]

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Vagliano Trophy: Honours even after day one

World No 1 Leona Maguire (left) and foursomes partner Olivia Mehaffey. Picture: Cal Carson Golf Agency

Great Britain and Ireland are level with the Continent of Europe after the first day of the Vagliano Trophy in Italy.

GB&I, who have not won the biennial competition since 2005, go into the second and final day at Bogogno Golf Club, tied on six points each with the Continent of Europe, who are bidding for six wins in a row. The morning foursomes were shared 2-2 and the singles 4-4.

GB&I’s Leona Maguire, number one in the World Amateur Golf RankingTM, recent winner of the Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship and Curtis Cup player, had to be content with two halved matches, first in the foursomes in partnership with WAGRTM No.13 Olivia Mehaffey, and then in her singles tie against Dewi Weber.

Maguire was three down in the initial stages but chipped away at her deficit, capping her fightback by squaring the match at the 17th and halving the last.

Star performer for GB&I was another Curtis Cup player, Alice Hewson, who was five-under-par in foursomes partnership with India Clyburn and three-under-par in registering a 3&2 singles win over Matilda Castren from Finland. Long-hitting Hewson was behind in the early stages but got her nose in front by the turn and stayed in the driving seat to go three up after the 15th.

Olivia Mehaffey defeated last year's youngest ever Ladies’ British Open Amateur Champion Julia Engstrom, now 16, by one hole. Mehaffey was two up after the 10th but had to dig her heels in to hold the talented youngster at bay. Engstrom squared the match by winning the 17th but Mehaffey kept calm to win the 18th for the match.

Despite recording five birdies, Gemma Clews lost by 3&2 to a brilliant performance by WAGRTM No.3, Albane Valenzuela, who had an eagle and seven birdies and was two up at the turn.

Following defeats for India Clyburn (3&1 by Morgane Metraux), and Annabel Wilson (3&2 by Linnea Strom (Sweden), The Continent of Europe led 5½-4½ with two matches to finish. Sophie Lamb, last year's British Women's Stroke Play Champion, halved with Puk Lyng Thomsen, who won the 14th and 15th to square the contest. The 17th was halved in birdie threes and the honours were shared after a half at the last.

GB&I team huddle before the start of the Vagliano Trophy

With the score at 6-5 in favour of the Continent of Europe, it was left to the eldest of the GB&I team Maria Dunne, to bring match to all square. Up against WAGRTM No.18 Virginia Elena Carta, Dunne played well to lead the match almost from the start. Two up after eight, Dunne went three ahead after the 12th hole. Although her lead was cut back, the former Curtis Cup player was never under severe pressure and ran out a 2&1 winner to level the overall score at 6-6.

In the Junior Vagliano Trophy, the Under-16’s version of the competition, the Continent of Europe took the foursomes 2½-½ and the singles 4½-2½, to lead GB&I 7–2 at the halfway stage of the six-a-side match.

Lily May Humphreys was the only GB&I singles winner defeating Emilie Alba Paltrinieri by 3&1 after being three up at the 10th. GB&I’s Caitlin Whitehead fought back from two down after three to battle her way to a square match with Caterina Don.

Elaine Farquharson-Black

“I am happy with the outcome of the first day. It really was a roller-coaster of a day in which we were behind at one stage, got on level terms, fell behind again but our tailed wagged to share the singles.

"I thought the general standard of play in the afternoon was very high, on both sides. There were a lot of putts holed. We came from behind at Malone Golf Club two years ago and got to within two points of catching Team Europe over the final singles. So 6-6 represents a much more promising scenario for GB&I. I am really looking forward to it."

Vagliano, Bogogno Golf Club, Milan, Italy

FIRST DAY SCORE: Great Britain & Ireland 6, Continent of Europe 6

Foursomes (2-2)

GB & I names first

1. Leona Maguire & Olivia Mehaffey halved with Linnea Strom & Julia Engstrom.
2. Maria Dunne & Annabel Wilson lost to Matilda Castren & Morgane Metraux 7 and 6.
3. Alice Hewson & India Clyburn bt Puk Lyng Thomsen & Dewi Weber 1 hole.
4. Gemma Clews & Sophie Lamb halved with Virginia Elena Carta & Albane Valenzuela. 

 Singles (4-4)

1. Maguire halved with Weber
2. Hewson bt Castren 3 and 2.
3. Clyburn lost to Metraux 3 and 1.
4. Mehaffey bt Engstrom 1 hole.
5. Wilson lost to Strom 3 and 2.
6. Clews lost to Valenzuela 3 and 2.
7. Lamb halved with Thomsen
8. Dunne bt Carta 2 and 1.

Junior Vagliano Trophy

Day 1

Great Britain and Ireland 2, Continent of Europe 7

Foursomes  (0.5-2.5)

GB and I names first

1. Euphemie Rhodes & Lily May Humphreys halved with Emilie Alba Paltrinieri & Alessia Nobilio.
2. Ffion Tynan & Caitlin Whitehead lost to Bianca Fernandez & Garcia-Poggio 8 and 6. 
3. Sara Byrne & Carys Worby lost to Isabella Holpfer & Amanda Linner 2 holes.

Singles (1.5-4.5)

1. Humphreys bt Paltrinieri 3 and 1
2. Byrne lost to Holpfer 6 and 4
3. Tynan lost to Linner 3 and 1
4. Whitehead halved with Don
5. Worby lost to Garcia-Poggo 2 and 1
6. Rhodes lost to Nobilio 5 and 4.

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Boy Wonder — Power stuns rival with 129-yard walk-off eagle to retain Irish Boys

Open de France: Cut hurts McDowell and Lowry

PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 30:  Peter Uihlein of The United States plays his second shot on the 10th during day two of the HNA Open de Feance at Le Golf National on June 30, 2017 in Paris, France.  (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

The Irish Open is now hugely important to Graeme McDowell and Shane Lowry after they missed the cut in the weather-delayed HNA Open de France – the second tournament in the European Tour’s Rolex Series.

Ranked 93rd in the world and 150th in the Race to Dubai, two-time French Open winner McDowell was banking on a big week in Paris but instead bogeyed his last four holes to shoot 76 and miss the cut by two strokes on three-over par.

The 37-year old former US Open champion has yet to qualify for The Open but having decided not to enter Final Qualifying, he still has two more chances to make it if he can grab on of three spots on offer for leading non-exempt top 10 finishers in the Irish Open at Portstewart or the following week’s Scottish Open.

Lowry, who is now 69th in the world and 58th in the Race to Dubai, added a six-over 77 to his opening 74 to miss the cut by eight shots.

The Clara man started on the back nine and was already out of it when he played the back nine at Le Golf National in five-over 40 for the second day running. 

Paul Dunne, who is also chasing an Open spot via the top-10 route, added a 72 to his opening 70 to make the cut with a shot to spare on level par.

The Greystones man is eight strokes behind American Peter Uihlein (67) and Spain’s Adrian Otaegui (66), who lead by a stroke on eight under par from England’s Tommy Fleetwood (68) and  Sweden’s Alexander Björk (69).

First round leader Paul Waring of England is on six under par after a one over par round of 72 while Spain’s Jon Rahm, who is making his debut in a regular European Tour event, goes into the weekend five off the lead on three under par after signing for a 69.

Darren Clarke was left propping up the leaderboard on 160 after adding a 76 to his opening 84.

Peter Uihlein

"I've holed a decent amount of putts, which I didn't do at all at the U.S. Open. So to kind of come, I guess a week and a half later, and start hole some putts and making a few, it takes a lot of pressure off a lot of things. Makes it a little more comforting.

"It was a good day. I hit it pretty good. Made some nice putts I guess. I was pretty steady, really, so it was all right. Any time you go 34 holes without a bogey anywhere you're doing okay.

"Still have 36 holes left, so you never know. But I think any time you can kind of get off to, put yourself into contention after two days is where you want to be and see where you're at as the weekend plays out."

Adrian Otaegui

“I made a bogey on the second and missed a five iron just on the right and couldn't make the up-and-down. And after that, I played great from the tee and made good swings with the driver and the three wood from the tee.

“I made a birdie on six with a good second shot and chipped on nine. That helped, as well. Then played really well on the second nine. I hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens, and then I was lucky, as well, to hole two long putts, so I’m happy with the round. 

“I made a few changes on my swing the week off just before Germany and looks like it's on the right way. It looks like it's working well. I just have to keep working on that.”

Tommy Fleetwood

“It's always quite tricky when you have to go back out. It was a shame because I felt like I had a lovely rhythm again today. So you don't want to come in. But it was fine. At least we got to finish. It's nice to finish this evening than getting up early tomorrow morning and coming back. The last two holes, 17, 18, are a couple of tough holes. A couple of pars there is a nice end to the day really.”

Paul Waring

“I would have taken the score through 36 holes. Obviously I really got it going yesterday. I gave myself a couple of chances out there today, but I just didn't hole enough of the shorter putts.

“There are some really tough flags out there at times. The 17th and fourth were playing really tough into the teeth of the wind. We had a little bit of rain there, as well. It was a bit of a different golf course today. It was a little harder, it demanded a bit more from you, really.”

Jon Rahm

“I haven’t seen the fairway too much... My game off the tee, I wish it could be better. I mean, I've been trying to fix it. I don't know what's going on. At least now I'm missing right instead of left which is something I can play with. But I’ve been lucky to manage myself around and shoot under par twice, with only five fairways today and five yesterday, which is something that's pretty unusual here.

"My ball-striking after the tee shot feels great. My irons look good. My short game feels great. My putting feels great. I've been making a lot of long putts. Short game being the special one feeling, right. So I feel like I can be aggressive. I just need to give myself a chance to be on the fairway and maybe make some birdies.”

Round Two Scores (Par 71) 

134 P Uihlein (USA) 67 67, A Otaegui (Esp) 68 66, 

135 A Björk (Swe) 66 69, T Fleetwood (Eng) 67 68, 

136 P Waring (Eng) 64 72, N Kimsey (Eng) 66 70, 

137 R Fisher (Eng) 70 67, T Pieters (Bel) 66 71, G Storm (Eng) 71 66, 

138 G Bourdy (Fra) 70 68, B Dredge (Wal) 69 69, T Olesen (Den) 69 69, R Langasque (Fra) 73 65, R Rock (Eng) 71 67, R Karlberg (Swe) 68 70, A Sullivan (Eng) 68 70, L Westwood (Eng) 71 67,

139 H Porteous (RSA) 72 67, K Broberg (Swe) 68 71, M Kieffer (Ger) 71 68, G Havret (Fra) 73 66, B Wiesberger (Aut) 70 69, D Drysdale (Sco) 70 69, S Hend (Aus) 69 70, F Aguilar (Chi) 72 67, J Rahm (Esp) 70 69, N Bertasio (Ita) 69 70,

140 N Fasth (Swe) 70 70, M Korhonen (Fin) 72 68, M Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) 71 69, J Luiten (Ned) 69 71, T Aiken (RSA) 73 67, R Fox (Nzl) 73 67, A Levy (Fra) 69 71, N Elvira (Esp) 72 68, A Johnston (Eng) 72 68, A Noren (Swe) 69 71,

141 C Shinkwin (Eng) 69 72, L Haotong (Chn) 71 70, F Molinari (Ita) 71 70, P Larrazábal (Esp) 68 73, F Zanotti (Par) 69 72, I Poulter (Eng) 72 69, J Donaldson (Wal) 72 69, A Saddier (Fra) 68 73, J Fahrbring (Swe) 71 70, T Fisher Jnr (RSA) 71 70, F Fritsch (Ger) 67 74,

142 J Smith (Eng) 70 72, M Kaymer (Ger) 69 73, J Lagergren (Swe) 70 72, D Perrier (Fra) 71 71, G Stal (Fra) 69 73, C Wood (Eng) 72 70, O Fisher (Eng) 73 69, Paul Dunne (Irl) 70 72, J Scrivener (Aus) 73 69, M Siem (Ger) 69 73, C Hanson (Eng) 72 70, L Jensen (Den) 73 69, P Angles (Esp) 72 70, E Pepperell (Eng) 71 71, D Im (USA) 70 72, R Sterne (RSA) 73 69,

143 D Brooks (Eng) 72 71, N Colsaerts (Bel) 70 73, S Gros (Fra) 73 70, J Quesne (Fra) 71 72, R Gouveia (Por) 73 70, T Bjørn (Den) 73 70, T Jaidee (Tha) 72 71, P Khongwatmai (Tha) 71 72, 

CUT

144 S Manley (Wal) 72 72, M Pavon (Fra) 74 70, J Stalter (Fra) 74 70, A Dodt (Aus) 73 71, L Bjerregaard (Den) 71 73, A Cañizares (Esp) 72 72, S Lee (Kor) 72 72, C Sordet (Fra) 71 73, E Dubois (Fra) 72 72, T Hatton (Eng) 74 70,

145 J Campillo (Esp) 74 71, R Jacquelin (Fra) 75 70, Graeme McDowell (Nir) 69 76, H Otto (RSA) 72 73, B Rumford (Aus) 70 75, C Berardo (Fra) 69 76, C Shih-Chang (Tpe) 73 72, J Van Zyl (RSA) 72 73, E Molinari (Ita) 73 72, R Bland (Eng) 74 71, B Ritthammer (Ger) 73 72, D Willett (Eng) 72 73,

146 J Guerrier (Fra) 71 75, M Wallace (Eng) 72 74, W Ashun (Chn) 75 71, A Quiros (Esp) 74 72, S Kjeldsen (Den) 73 73, D Fichardt (RSA) 72 74, M Armitage (Eng) 71 75, D Howell (Eng) 73 73, B Stone (RSA) 69 77, R Karlsson (Swe) 70 76, R Knox (Sco) 72 74,

147 R Paratore (Ita) 77 70, S Gallacher (Sco) 72 75, E De La Riva (Esp) 76 71, D Stewart (Sco) 69 78, P Hanson (Swe) 72 75, D Frittelli (RSA) 73 74, L Yan-Wei (Chn) 69 78, R Ramsay (Sco) 74 73, M Ilonen (Fin) 74 73, J Kruger (RSA) 72 75, T Detry (Bel) 72 75,

148 M Manassero (Ita) 75 73, M Fraser (Aus) 73 75, A Chesters (Eng) 71 77, T Immelman (RSA) 75 73, Z Lombard (RSA) 73 75, C Paisley (Eng) 72 76, T Linard (Fra) 71 77, S Jamieson (Sco) 74 74, R Wattel (Fra) 75 73,

149 M Southgate (Eng) 76 73, J Morrison (Eng) 72 77, S Heisele (Ger) 76 73, J Lima (Por) 73 76, M Fitzpatrick (Eng) 76 73, M Foster (Eng) 72 77, S Brazel (Aus) 78 71, V Dubuisson (Fra) 72 77, D Burmester (RSA) 75 74,

150 G Coetzee (RSA) 68 82, M Carlsson (Swe) 73 77, C Pigem (Esp) 73 77, J Walters (RSA) 71 79,

151 S Dyson (Eng) 70 81, Shane Lowry (Irl) 74 77,

152 D Lipsky (USA) 76 76,

153 B Hebert (Fra) 79 74,

154 H Tanihara (Jpn) 73 81, L Slattery (Eng) 77 77, S Walker (Eng) 73 81, J Olazábal (Esp) 73 81, A Knappe (Ger) 74 80,

155 P Peterson (USA) 77 78,

156 M Warren (Sco) 77 79, 

157 W Ormsby (Aus) 81 76, 

158 J Carlsson (Swe) 75 83, 

159 A Romero (Arg) 77 82, 

160 Darren Clarke (Nir) 84 76, 

** K Aphibarnrat (Tha) 78 DQ, J Wang (Kor) 74 RT, A Wall (Eng) RT 0,

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Hoey lurking in Scottish Challenge

Scott Fernandez. Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images

Michael Hoey fired an immaculate 66 to lie just two shots off the lead at the halfway stage of the SSE Scottish Hydro Challenge hosted by Macdonald Hotels & Resorts. 

The 38-year old is tied for third on eight-under par after a five-birdie round and chasing Sweden's Mikael Lundberg, who shot a 65 to lead by one stroke from the overnight leader, Welshman Richard James (68).

The Island's Gavin Moynihan also shot 66 and is just three off the pace on seven under in a share of fifth with Dermot McElroy (71) on four under.

Neil O'Briain (67) two under and Ruaidhri McGee (69) level par, were the only other Irishmen to make the cut.

Scores after Round Two

132 M Lundberg (Swe) 67 65, 

133 R James (Wal) 65 68, 

134 Michael Hoey (Nir) 68 66, S Fernandez (Esp) 69 65, 

135 P Oriol (Esp) 67 68, R McEvoy (Eng) 70 65, Gavin Moynihan (Irl) 69 66, 

136 S Brown (Eng) 69 67, M Kinhult (Swe) 71 65, M Tullo (Chi) 70 66, 

137 J Senior (Eng) 68 69, J Heath (Eng) 72 65, N Møller (Den) 71 66, J Hansen (Den) 71 66, E Van Rooyen (RSA) 68 69, 

138 Dermot McElroy (Nir) 67 71, N Ravano (Ita) 71 67, M Iten (Sui) 75 63, N Cullen (Aus) 71 67, M Ford (Eng) 69 69, A Rai (Eng) 70 68, J Dantorp (Swe) 69 69, J McDonald (Sco) 72 66, S Forsström (Swe) 71 67, 

139 C Griffiths (Eng) 72 67, L Gagli (Ita) 73 66, M Lafeber (Ned) 70 69, A Meronk (Pol) 71 68, E Goya (Arg) 71 68, 

140 M Madsen (Den) 70 70, J Doherty (Sco) 70 70, M Ovesen (Den) 74 66, M Nixon (Eng) 73 67, Neil O'Briain (Irl) 73 67, J Girrbach (Sui) 71 69, N Johansson (Swe) 72 68, V Riu (Fra) 69 71, 

141 J McLeary (Sco) 74 67, M Orrin (Eng) 72 69, M Lampert (Ger) 73 68, J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 70 71, C Ford (Eng) 69 72, R Saxton (Ned) 75 66, B Eccles (Aus) 73 68, R McCarthy (Aus) 75 66, F Laporta (Ita) 74 67, P Widegren (Swe) 74 67, V Perez (Fra) 71 70, 

142 B Hafthorsson (Isl) 73 69, D Kay (Sco) 74 68, A Connelly (Can) 72 70, G Forrest (Sco) 74 68, C Koepka (USA) 74 68, J Ross (Sco) 74 68, Ruaidhri McGee (Irl) 73 69, K Samooja (Fin) 72 70, 

143 M Schwab (Aut) 73 70, N Geyger (Chi) 75 68, E Cuartero Blanco (Esp) 76 67, D Fox (Aus) 73 70, D Van Driel (Ned) 72 71, A Wennstam (Swe) 72 71, S Soderberg (Swe) 75 68, J Sarasti (Esp) 74 69, J Rutherford (Eng) 71 72, M Wiegele (Aut) 74 69, J Brun (Fra) 75 68, L Canter (Eng) 71 72, M Haastrup (Den) 73 70, O Farr (Wal) 72 71, S Henry (Sco) 73 70, 

CUT (143 +1)

144 Cormac Sharvin (Nir) 77 67, Chris Selfridge (Nir) 71 73, 

147 Gary Hurley (Irl) 79 68,

149 Kevin Phelan (Irl) 76 73

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European Amateur: O'Rourke in the mix at Walton Heath

Naas' Conor O'Rourke in action at Walton Heath. Picture © Leaderboard Photography

Conor O'Rourke will carry Irish hopes into the final round of the European Amateur Championship when he bids to close a three-shot gap on a trio of leaders at Walton Heath.

The Naas man, one of Ireland's leading contenders for a Walker Cup call-up this year, made an eagle, three birdies and three bogeys in a  two-under par 70 to share ninth place on nine-under 207.

It wasn't quite the round he was looking for but he still has a fighting chance of a big finish with the top 16 players on the leaderboard covered by just four shots.

Italian's Lucan Cianchetti (67) and Lorenzo Scalise (65) share top spot with Frenchman Jeremy Gandon (67) on 12-under par, one clear of England's Alfie Plant (67).

Eight of the 10 Irish entrants made the two-under par cut with Whitehead's John-Ross Galbraith (66), Warrenpoint's Colm Campbell (69) and The Island's Paul McBride (72) tied for 29th, seven shots off the pace.

Tullamore's Stuart Grehan (71) and Tramore's Robin Dawson (72) are nine behind the leaders on three-under with Naas' Jonny Yates (70) and Portmarnock's Conor Purcell (7) a shot further back.

The cut fell at two-under 214 which meant Castle's Alex Gleeson (73) missed by one with Laytown and Bettystown's Thomas Mulligan (74) six further back. 

European Amateur Championship, Walton Heath (Old Course, Par 72)

Detailed scores

T1 CIANCHETTI, Luca (Modena Golf) 70 67 67 204
T1 GANDON, Jeremy (Rcf La Boulie) 66 71 67 204
T1 SCALISE, Lorenzo (Golf Club Milano) 64 75 65 204
4 PLANT, Alfie (Sundridge Park) 72 66 67 205
T5 HERRMANN, Alexander (Gc Stuttgart Solitude) 69 68 69 206
T5 FRANSSEN, Rory (Inverness) 67 70 69 206
T5 PERRY, Dylan (The Vintage) 66 69 71 206
T5 DE LANGE, Keegan (Pretoria Country Club) 65 72 69 206
T9 MCMAHON, Joshua (Wallasey GC) 70 67 70 207
T9 SCOTT, Sandy (The Nairn Golf Club) 69 71 67 207
T9 BROWN, Daniel (Masham) 68 73 66 207
T9 O’ROURKE, Conor (Naas) 67 70 70 207
T29 GALBRAITH, John-Ross (Whitehead) 75 70 66 211
T29 CAMPBELL, Colm (Warrenpoint) 70 72 69 211
T29 MCBRIDE, Paul (The Island) 70 69 72 211
T45 GREHAN, Stuart (Tullamore) 70 72 71 213
T45 DAWSON, Robin (Tramore) 68 73 72 213
T53 YATES, Jonathan (Naas) 72 72 70 214
T53 PURCELL, Conor (Portmarnock) 72 72 70 214

Cut ( -2 / 214)

MC GLEESON, Alex (Castle) 73 69 73 215
MC MULLIGAN, Thomas (Laytown And Bettystown) 70 77 74 221

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Video: Stage 1 MINI Cooper S by BR-Performance Claims 260 HP

The MINI Cooper S in two-door hatchback guise is arguably the perfect car in the entire MINI range today. It’s the closest to the original in terms of size and it has enough power to get your adrenaline kicks every day at the same time. Sure, the JCW model does come with a serious power bump but then again, the price hike is just as serious asking for a $6,600 premium. Luckily for us, there are a couple of alternatives out there.

The guys from BR-Performance seem to have hit a sweet spot, offering a Stage 1 kit for the MINI Cooper S that costs just €690 or $790 at today’s exchange rates. And while we do know that the JCW model doesn’t stand just for more power, the whole chassis being reworked, most people are not all that keen on getting a stiffer ride in the first place. Pros and cons I guess, but the thing is, for $790 you get a hell of a deal according to the Belgian tuner.

Their upgrade apparently increases the power output of the 2-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine under the hood to 260 HP and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque. That’s an impressive increase, one that topples even the most powerful engine offered by MINI. The tricky part will be keeping it all in check using only the front axle but that’s a whole different discussion. Considering the low weight of just under 1.2 tons the MINI has, this thing will be a proper rocket bunny on the road.

Another thing we have to mention about BR-Performance and what they have in store for the MINI aficionado is the pops and bangs package. As you’re about to hear, this kit will transform the MINI Cooper S into a proper machine gun on four wheels, being damn near funny in terms of exhaust note. Check it out!

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Video: Lucky Squirrel Narrowly Avoids BMW M235i Racing on Nurburgring

Sometimes people tend to forget some rather important details about the Nurburgring. The famous Green Hell is adored by millions of gearheads around the world for its incredible layout and numerous turns but there’s more to it than just a challenging course. The Nurburgring Nordschelife is actually a German highway from a legal standpoint and it’s also been built in the Eifel mountains.

So it’s not unusual to see animals roam freely around the track and, from time to time, on the track as well. Since the Ring is quite long, with a total track distance of over 28 km (17.3 miles), going around it is a tedious task. Therefore, the squirrel you’re about to see, probably being in a terrible hurry, decided to simply go across the track to get where it needed to go. Unfortunately for it, this little adventure could’ve cost it its life.

Just as our brave hero starts heading to its destination, a BMW M235i Racing comes out of nowhere and nearly takes it out, the poor squirrel even having to retract its tail in a hurry, to make sure nothing happens to it. This is basically as close as it can get. Luckily no harm came to the little critter as the driver of the BMW was quite quick on the trigger and slowed down considerably to avoid it.

As a matter of fact, if you look closely, you can actually see the car doing a little dance as it struggles to slow down, under hard braking. Fortunately, it worked, and the little brave squirrel got to go home to its family that day, with a new story to share.

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