London 2012: Tim Brabants 'back to his old self' after injury - BBC News
Tim Brabants can successfully defend his Olympic title at London 2012 despite a "career-threatening" injury, according to Britain's canoeing chief.
Brabants, 35, won gold in the K1 1000m sprint canoe event at Beijing 2008 but had major shoulder surgery last year.
He was named to Team GB for his fourth consecutive Olympics on Thursday having won a selection battle for his place.
Analysis: GB medal hopes
Tim Brabants is coming into form at the right time after his injury but look to the men's 200m sprint distances for Britain's best hopes of gold.
Ed McKeever won the 2010 world title in the K1 200m class, adding silver in 2011, while Liam Heath and Jon Schofield also won silver in the two-man K2 event that year alongside the European title. The trio should earn Britain two medals at the Games.
GB's women's K4 boat finished fourth at the 2011 World Championships. The four-woman event is seen as the priority over individual races for Rachel Cawthorn and Jess Walker and the ever-improving crew are capable of a medal.
In the men's C1 races, talent ID success Rich Jefferies will be aiming to reach the finals and is considered a hotter prospect for Rio 2016.
Performance director John Anderson said Brabants "looked like he was back to his old self" in the deciding race.
Brabants outclassed rival Paul Wycherley at the World Cup in Duisburg, Germany - the third and final selection race for the British Olympic team - to claim the one spot available to a Briton in the men's K1 1000m at London 2012.
"A career-threatening injury two years ago really put him behind where he wanted to be," Anderson told BBC Sport.
"We're talking a serious injury. Last year was difficult for Tim with his rehab and he basically didn't have enough time to get back.
"I think it's the measure of an Olympic champion to come through that adversity and deliver the performances. Tim's aspiration is to go out and defend his Olympic title. On his day, he's capable of challenging the podium in London."
Wycherley, 26, went to the 2011 World Championships instead of a struggling Brabants after beating the latter in a one-off selection race last summer.
Speaking as his place on the GB team for the Olympics was announced, Brabants said: "[For the past year] I've been fighting off the back foot more than in previous years, because of the shoulder surgery I had. Now we're back where we want to be.
"Four years later, it doesn't get any easier. We know what we did to achieve what we did in Beijing - the training, the work and the mental preparation - now it's following a similar pattern but it's harder, because I'll need to go faster to win in London."
Reigning world champion Adam van Koeverden of Canada, Norway's Eirik Veraas Larsen and Australia's Ken Wallace are among the candidates looking to challenge Brabants this summer.
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Vauxhall Astra updated - AutoExpress
London 2012 Olympics: Locog release 50,000 more Olympic Park tickets on general sale - Daily Telegraph
Townsend added: "For those people who are no longer able to attend, or cannot give their tickets to friends or family, they can now use our resale platform. This will enable people to resell their tickets in a safe and legal way."
London 2012 have announced that the tickets will be validated and released for sale on a sport-by-sport basis. If a ticket is sold, the ticketholder will get an email and then a refund within 10 working days of the sale. The original ticket should go back to London 2012. If the ticket remains unsold it will be returned to the customer's account.
Tickets are on sale on the London 2012 Ticket website or by phone on 0844 847 2012. People who want to purchase tickets can only pay with a debit, credit or prepaid card.
Any potential purchasers wanting to check for wheelchair spaces should call the same number and speak to the London 2012 Accessibility team.
Vauxhall Astra VXR first drive - girlracer
The Vauxhall Astra GTC three door coupe has been given the automotive equivalent of a workout to beef up its looks and power, and created the newest VXR.
A natural successor to the previous generation Astra VXR and stablemate to other VXR models in the range, Vauxhall will sell more VXRs in Britain than the rest of Europe. It is anticipated to take 10 per cent of GTC volume or 1,200 units annually in the UK. Dealers already have 621 orders for the VXR.
Although based on the popular Astra GTC, the VXR version is in fact a very different car both underneath and in its bodystyling, as Vice President of Design Mark Adams was keen to point out, saying, “We wanted to give the Astra VXR a more muscular look, particularly from the back.
“You actually spend more time looking at the back of a vehicle than any other view when you’re driving and we wanted to make the Astra VXR distinctive.
“It has a lower front line, lower sills, reverse blade and shock wave on the side but at the back it has a more rounded cabin area and a sort of duck-tail on the boot which pulls the whole thing together over wide arches.”
The Astra VXR also has a unique bi-plane rear window spoiler, with a carefully designed small wing exerting downforce over the more familiar spoiler on the back window.
“This is form and function working together,” added Mark Adams. ”We wanted it to have elements of the Astra but also to look different as well so it has a wider track front and back and the arches are flared to create a more dramatic stance, more muscular appearance.”
The wheels, tyres, seats, steering wheel and interior are also unique to the Astra VXR.
Mechanically, the new model has been put on a diet so unsprung weight is cut by 60kgs at the wheels, it uses a new mechanical limited slip differential, sports brakes, bushes and suspension.
This weight saving not only improves dynamic handling qualities but also performance and lowers emissions while making the Astra VXR one of the most powerful three-doors hatches on sale.
It costs a coffee under £27,000 on the road but comes with standard FlexiRide adjustable damping, selectable ESP, digital entertainment system, USB, iPod and Bluetooth connectivity and LED tail-lights.
The side-skirts and bi-plane spoiler as well as 20-inch alloys are part of the £995 Aero Pack, but most early buyers have specified this and other options include electric seat adjustment, satnav with SD card and adaptive forward lighting.
The 2+2 interior has some subtle changes to the wheel and secondary switches, instruments and oddments room. The rear seats fold and there’s a ski-hatch for long items.
Aimed at the enthusiastic VXR community and performance drivers, the most powerful Astra was honed on the Nurburgring and the mechanical LSD was developed by a racing supplier and it’s fitted with unique Pirelli tyres.
It has class-leading pulling power in the mid-range as well as in absolute terms and its responsiveness is down to a new type of air-flow sensor and refined turbocharger with a tuned exhaust note to enjoy.
Astra VXR is fitted with a stop&start system to improve overall economy compared to the previous generation VXR as well as lower exhaust emissions.
First drive impressions
Vauxhall has done a good job of beefing up the Astra VXR for British buyers.
The powertrain and chassis changes are not only impressive where it matters on the road, but they have not destroyed the Astra for every-day use, so long as you are cautious about pulling out or reversing because there are big blind-spots.
But you can see, feel and hear the differences delivered by the Astra VXR.
It looks the part of a rapid road car, it feels sporting in the hands and seat of the pants and the way the exhaust note alters is like turning on a kettle.
The mid-range pull is probably the abiding memory of our initial drive, the way the power pours out in third and fourth is most impressive, it cruises quietly and overall we saw 29 mpg on our test route over a variety of A & B class roads and short dual carriageway.
I liked the new lightweight yet very supporting seats, you can sit two in the back but its short on legroom for a third in the middle and the boot is of a useful size and quickly increases when the seat-backs are down.
I disliked the blackness of the interior and lack of relief apart from the coloured instruments and felt more could have been done to highlight elements of the interior contours. Having said that, the Astra VXR comes with good equipment as standard and useful optional items to satisfy individuals.
Astra VXR is keenly priced for the performance per pound and smile per mile.
MILESTONES. Vauxhall Astra VXR 2.0 Turbo. Price: £26,995. Engine/transmission: 2.0-litre 16v, 4cyl, turbocharged petrol, 280PS at 5,500rpm, 400Nm 2,500 to 4,500rpm, six speed, front wheel drive. Performance: 155mph, 0-60mph 5.9 seconds, 34.9mpg Combined Cycle (actual on test 29.1 mpg), CO2 emissions 189g/km, VED road tax £460 First Year rate then £250 per annum, BIK company car tax 28%. Insurance group: 35E. Loadspace: 380 to 1,165 litres. Warranty: 100K.
For: Mid-range pulling power, sharp steering, slick gearchange and strong brakes with acceptable ride over bad surfaces, supportive seats. Against: Visibility, oppressively dark interior, some kickback through steering under strong acceleration, occasional road noise over certain surfaces. Robin Roberts Miles Better News Agency
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