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The governing body of world motor sport made a flying start to the 2007 Formula One season before the cars had even left the first race start grid in Melbourne, by investing in a new, ultra high-specification fleet of Mercedes 4x2 tractor units.
The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) has bought five eye-catching Actros 1848LS with BlueTec® Euro 5 SCR (selective catalytic reduction) engines, from Surrey and Sussex dealer Rossetts Commercials.
The trucks feature range-topping, flat-floored and air-conditioned MegaSpace cabs, and the latest 16-speed Mercedes PowerShift automated transmissions, and bristle with optional extras.
Three are reduced height Midi-Line Actros, while two are even lower Lo-Line models; a sixth is due to arrive before the end of the year.
All five trucks, together with their bespoke, state-of-the-art trailers built by German specialist Schuler, will be serviced under full Mercedes-Benz repair and maintenance contracts, at Rossetts’ Worthing workshop.
The Actros will be used to transport the FIA Technical Department’s equipment and offices to all of the European rounds of the FIA Formula One World Championship.
The FIA had previously assigned Swedish-built trucks to this role. But it switched to the three-pointed star because of Mercedes-Benz’s ability to supply vehicles that already meet super-tough Euro 5 emissions targets which do not even come into force until 2009.
Another key attraction was the heavy emphasis on active and passive safety in the design of the Actros – as well as running motor sport, the FIA represents the interests of motoring organisations and car users throughout the world, and its recently-launched ‘Make Roads Safe Campaign’ is calling on the United Nations to approve the first ever UN Global Ministerial Summit on Road Safety and agree an international strategy for road injury prevention.
Although they will each cover an average of only 30,000 miles per year, the FIA’s new Actros would be any truck driver’s ‘dream machine’. Their stunning appearance owes much to SB Components International, of Wisbech, Norfolk, which is responsible for the full chassis infills and side guards that complement the trailer profiles. They also sport Alcoa Dura-Bright alloy wheels shod with specially-sized tyres, ensuring the correct ride heights.
The Actros are equipped with DaimlerChrysler FleetBoard telematics systems. Other optional features designed to make life easier, less stressful and safer for the FIA’s drivers while they are out on the road, include: |
 | The Telligent® Lane Assist automatic lane recognition system, which sounds an audible warning in the cab should the vehicle veer across white lines without indicating; | | Hill Hold, a device that makes starts easier by holding the vehicle momentarily so the driver does not have to use a handbrake; | | Proximity Control, a development of the cruise control system, which will brake the Actros when necessary to keep it a set distance from the vehicle in front; | | A Voith retarder, to reduce wear on the braking system. | | A camera on the offside door with dash-mounted colour screen, to aid reversing |
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Neil Callander, Operations Manager based at the FIA F1 Technical Centre in Chessington, Surrey, says: “The service from truck sales executive Andrew Hird and the rest of the team at Rossetts Commercials has been very good.
“The dealer delivered a programme of product familiarisation and driver instruction at Worthing, and we’re now planning some more advanced training to promote good practice on the road and project the correct image of the FIA.” |
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