Auto News 5

Volkswagen's minimalist styling is the look of the future because the fad for flamboyant "overdesign" is finished, says Walter de' Silva, VW's global design chief.

Smart will debut an electric-powered concept car at the Paris auto show this week that previews the styling of the Daimler subsidiary's future models.

From press release

Antoine L'Estage and his co-driver Nathalie Richard have claimed another North American Rally Championship title after they took third place at the Olympus Rally, the final round of 2012 Rally America series.

Even with two remaining events in Canada before the completion of this year's North American season, the Rockstar Energy Drink duo has accumulated more victory points than their rivals can now mathematically collect.

L'Estage and Richard won the Susquehannock Trail Rally in June and the New England Forest Rally in July before taking third at the Olympus to clinch the title.

Nathalie Richard and Antoine L'Estage. (Photo: Aaron Kathman)

“The Olympus Rally used to be part of the World Rally Championship back in the 1980s and I can completely understand why ! The roads are amazing and they are a lot of fun to drive,” said L'Estage.

“This year, we had to deal with challenging weather conditions. It was extremely dry and there was a high risk of fire in the area so the organizers had to shift the schedule around a lot so we could compete. But, we still had a huge amount of dust to contend with throughout the event » indicates Antoine, who adds : « the level of competition was the best we've had in years, reuniting all the top drivers from the US and Canadian series. Our Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X was perfect from start to finish, with only a flat tire after hitting a rock in the road marring our weekend. We were able to make up some time and eventually climbed back onto the podium,” L'Estage explained.

There's still two events to run in the Canadian Rally Championship: the Pacific Forest Rally in Merritt, British Columbia on October 12 and 13, and the Rally of the Tall Pines in Bancroft, Ontario on November 24.

Two years after introducing the four-passenger Neoma microcar concept at the Paris Auto Show, French automaker Lumeneo is set to present the roadster variant.

Information about the cute little city car remains scarce, but we do know that the two-seat model (whose shape reminds us of a Kinder Surprise egg) is built on the same platform while riding on 17'' wheels and a sport-tuned suspension. It's powered by a 46 hp electric motor that draws energy from a 14.2 kWh battery.

Lumeneo announces a range of 140 kilometres and a top speed of 110 km/h with a full charge, which takes four hours.

Will the Neoma Roadster ever enter production? Time will tell. The company's website mentions that the four-seat Neoma will begin deliveries right after the Paris Auto Show.

Source: Lumeneo

Photo: Lumeneo

From GMM

Vitaly Petrov's formula one career is in crisis, after his manager called off talks with prospective teams over a 2013 race seat.

Oksana Kosachenko told the Russian news agency Ria Novosti that the former Renault and now Caterham driver's sponsorship funds have dried up.

She said recently she was in talks about 2013 with three or four teams.

"We've taken a timeout now," Kosachenko said on Tuesday. "I need time to consolidate all our financial possibilities and understand if there's sense in continuing any talks. If there's no money, then there's no driver."

Vitaly Petrov at Monza. (Photo: Caterham F1 Team)

Oksana Kosachenko said last month that the Russian government had pulled its backing of Petrov, which was in the form of sponsorships from state-controlled Russian Helicopters and chemicals manufacturer Sibur.

Petrov, 28, ousted Caterham's Jarno Trulli at the last minute ahead of the 2012 season, but Kosachenko said she would not spend the winter in similarly urgent talks.

She said she would instead look at the possibility of "other projects" for Petrov.

As for Petrov's relationship with Caterham, that appears to be at an end.

In the team's post-race media statement after Singapore, boss Tony Fernandes hinted there would soon be positive news about Heikki Kovalainen's future.

"We're very pleased for Tony that he has positive news," said Kosachenko on Tuesday. "But we'd like it if this news had some sort of connection to the car's development and not just to Heikki."

From NASCAR

NASCAR today Tuesday the Sprint Cup Series' 2013 schedule, a highly anticipated campaign that will welcome redesigned cars to the track.

Though unveiled and tested throughout the 2012 season, the new models -- the Chevrolet SS, Ford Fusion and Toyota Camry -- will make their official entrance into competition on Feb. 16 at the Shootout at Daytona International Speedway. Qualifying for the "Great American Race" will take place Feb. 17, followed by the season-opening Daytona 500 on Feb. 24.

"The new NASCAR Sprint Cup cars for next season have dominated fan conversation for more than a year, and the time is approaching to unleash them on the race track," said Brian France, NASCAR chairman and CEO. "Next year's schedule again will offer a strong mix of challenges for our talented drivers, and we believe fans will continue to enjoy what they've come to expect: the most exciting and competitive racing in the world."

The 2013 Cup schedule, marking the 65th season for NASCAR's premier series, will have a familiar feel, opening with the Daytona 500 before moving west to Phoenix (March 3) and Las Vegas (March 10). For the third consecutive season, the Chase for the Sprint Cup will start at Chicagoland. The Chase will conclude at the season finale on Nov. 17 at Homestead-Miami.

With Kansas Speedway's repave project complete, next season's fall event at Talladega will return to its traditional spot on the calendar. Talladega's 2013 Chase race, the sixth of the 10-race playoff, will be run Oct. 20. Kansas will host its 2013 Chase event on Oct. 6.

2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule

Feb. 24 Daytona 500
March 3 Phoenix
March 10 Las Vegas
March 17 Bristol
March 24 Auto Club
April 7 Martinsville
April 13 Texas
April 21 Kansas
April 27 Richmond
May 5 Talladega
May 11 Darlington
May 18 Charlotte All-Star
May 26 Charlotte
June 2 Dover
June 9 Pocono
June 16 Michigan
June 23 Sonoma
June 29 Kentucky
July 6 Daytona
July 14 New Hampshire
July 28 Indianapolis
Aug. 4 Pocono
Aug. 11 Watkins Glen
Aug. 18 Michigan
Aug. 24 Bristol
Sept. 1 Atlanta
Sept. 7 Richmond
Sept. 15 Chicagoland
Sept. 22 New Hampshire
Sept. 29 Dover
Oct. 6 Kansas
Oct. 12 Charlotte
Oct. 20 Talladega
Oct. 27 Martinsville
Nov. 3 Texas
Nov. 10 Phoenix
Nov. 17 Homestead

According to a news published by British newspaper The Guardian, the inaugural Grand Prix of America in New Jersey scheduled for June 16, 2013 would now be in jeopardy.

The American race has been hit with problems since it was announced in October last year, and it received a major blow last August with the resignation of its president, Tom Cotter.

Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone told The Guardian: “They have not complied with the terms and conditions of the contract which is now gone anyway. They don't have a contract."

Part of the track with the New York skyline in the background. (Photo: Red Bull Racing)

The 2013 Formula 1 schedule needs to be rubber stamped by the World Council of Motor Sport on September 28.

"We are pretty close to the final deadline," Ecclestone added. "We have got a World Council meeting coming up. I think if somebody got behind them it could happen in 2013 because they have come a long way with the circuit,” he added.

The race is supposed to be staged on a New Jersey street circuit which runs alongside the Hudson river with the York City historic skyline in the background.

Alongside the new Porsche 911 Carrera 4 and 4S at the 2012 Paris Auto Show will be the new Porsche Cayenne S Diesel, the most powerful diesel model in the SUV segment.

Boasting a 382-horsepower, 4.2L turbodiesel V8 that generates 627 lb-ft of torque, the vehicle sprints to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds while its top speed is electronically limited at 252 km/h.

The Porsche Cayenne S Diesel will arrive in Canadian showrooms in 2013, although pricing has not yet been announced. The 240-hp Cayenne Diesel is available now and boasts a MSRP of $64,500.

Photo: Porsche

Kurt Busch, the former Sprint Cup champion, has been signed to race in NASCAR's Sprint Cup series for Furniture Row in 2013.

Busch, currently driving for James Finch's Phoenix racing, replaces Regan Smith who has driving for the Denver, Colorado based team since 2009.

“Though we have made strides as a resourceful single-car Sprint Cup team, we are not where we want to be, which led us to the difficult decision of making a driver change as we move forward,” said Furniture Row Racing's general manager Joe Garone. “Kurt's exceptional driving talent has the capacity to take a team to another level. We look forward to having Kurt join our Denver-based organization and feel his racing experience will play an important role as we plan ahead to 2013.” 

Regan Smith's Furniture Row Sprint Cup car. (Photo: NASCAR)

Garone added, “As our team driver the past four years, Regan has represented Furniture Row Racing with both class and competitiveness. His win at Darlington in 2011 - the first for Furniture Row Racing - will be a memory forever etched in our organization's history. He is a friend, and will always be a friend of Furniture Row Racing. We wish him all the best.”

Busch, a 34 year-old native of Las Vegas, has been a full time driver in the Sprint Cup Series since 2001. He has 427 Cup starts and has scored 24 wins, 89 top-fives, 171 top-10s and 15 poles. He has qualified for the Chase six times in the past nine years and won the 2004 inaugural Chase season championship in only his third full season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series.

“Furniture Row Racing has the commitment, talent and resources to compete at a high level in the Sprint Cup Series,” said Busch. "I have watched with admiration on how this team has grown over the years and that is why I am excited about the opportunity as I eagerly look forward to a new chapter in my racing career."

Busch explained “Commitment and the whole program, tied in with RCR (Richard Childress Racing), we're getting Childress motors, engineering support, Chevrolet is backing the program out there with the aerodynamic side of it. I didn't want to talk about it much today, I wanted to create the tailspin, and we'll see how the next few weeks go.”

Two French engineers, Xavier Degon and Antonin Guy, have just crossed 17 countries and travelled 25,000 kilometres around the globe to demonstrate how electric vehicles can suit any lifestyle. They were greeted yesterday by the Mayor of Strasbourg, where they had started their remarkable journey on February 11th, 2012.

''If an electric vehicle can take you around the world, through the Gobi Desert and the chaotic roads of Laos, it certainly can handle your daily commutes to work, the supermarket and your kid's school,'' said Degon.

Driving a fully electric Citroën C-Zero, the two men visited major cities as well as some of the most remote locations on earth, stopping every 100 kilometres or so to charge the battery. What was their total electricity bill at the end of those 25,000 kilometres? A mere €250, or just over $310. Impressive!

Photo: Citroën

Mercedes-Benz Canada will open a driving school for teenagers in Vancouver next spring - the first of its kind in the country. Jointly operated by the automaker and its long-time partner Driving Unlimited, it will offer comprehensive training that goes well beyond basic driving lessons.


Teen drivers will learn to be safer on the road through a combination of classroom, in-car, and online education and training, not to mention ground-breaking e-learning and personal risk assessment modules. They will get a much better understanding of risk awareness in order to safely navigate today's congested roads and other challenging situations.

Statistics show that Canadian drivers aged 16 to 19 are four times more likely to die than those in the 25 to 34 group. Thanks to the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy for Teens in the U.K., students who attended the program had a first-time driver's license exam pass rate of 79%, which is nearly double the national average of 43%.

"Despite the dramatic changes in vehicles, highways, and the driving environment over the past 60 years, driver education has remained relatively unchanged in North America," said Alexander Hobbach, Global Head of Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy.

"We are extremely proud to do our part to help make Canadian roads safer, and look forward to launching the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy for Teens in Vancouver early next year," added Tim A. Reuss, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Canada.

From GMM

According to multiple British newspapers, team McLaren has slightly upped its monetary offer in a late bid to secure Lewis Hamilton's services for next Formula 1 season.

The Daily Mail said McLaren has increased its offer by EUR 2.5 million to 15 million, which is still less than his current retainer of about 19 million.

Lewis Hamilton's retirement, while leading the Singapore Grand Prix. (Photo: WRi2)

In the Times, correspondent Kevin Eason wrote that some in the paddock now expect an announcement to be made "in the next few days".

But Eason also quoted an observer as saying: "For a guy who is so fast in a formula one car, he is taking his time making a decision."

Asked if an announcement is imminent, boss Martin Whitmarsh answered: "We will see what we can do. I think we are a good team together."

German reports claim that Mercedes, Hamilton's possible destination for 2013, are meeting in Stuttgart on Tuesday for a board meeting.

While Hamilton's retainer at Mercedes would be about the same or even slightly lower as is on offer by McLaren, the German manufacturer is reportedly open to allowing Hamilton and his management to negotiate lucrative personal endorsement deals.

From press release

The record holder for the highest number of starts in Formula 1, Rubens Barrichello has announced that he will join Medley/Full Time Sports team in the last round of the Brazilian Stock Car Championship on December 9 at Interlagos.

Photo: MF2

The race, expected to crown the champion of the 2012 season, offers a one million of reais (U$ 500.000) prize to the winner.

Barrichello will be partnered by former GP2 series Xandinho Negrão and will have an exclusive test to get to grips with the V8 480-horespower race car October 15 at the Curitiba circuit. 


Barrichello explained that he's been always curious about racing in stock car, but the proper offer never came up until recently.

"I think I have watched every Stock Car race for a long time and knew that one day I would be there. This time, however, there is a strong reason to be part of it, as the company that backs Full Time Sports will give R$ 230.000 (U$ 115.000) for Instituto Barrichello Kanaan, a NGO that helps public schools and social organisations with technical support, promoting citizenship through the sport."

Photo: MF2

The 41-year old Brazilian, with a total of 326 races in 19 seasons in Formula 1 under his belt, is tipped to remain in the IndyCar Series in 2013, after finishing in 12th position in his debut with KV Racing this year.

"It was not a difficult decision to accept the call from Medley/Full Time Sports. The poor children has already won even before the race begins...", justified. "Instituto Barrichello Kanaan" runs a project entitled IBKart for kids that live in the poorest neighbourhood of Interlagos. "I believe we have a small Hamilton there", said Barrichello, impressed by the precocious talent of a little boy.

I know I'm not the only one out there who's seen them. I know they don't just suddenly appear for my eyes alone, and I know they're there for a reason and I'd like to think it's a non-morbid and rather amusing one.

I'm talking about highway shoes. And it's not a fancy term for banked corners or fast onramps or even a tricky traffic manoeuvre. I literally mean the random single shoes left lying on the sides of highways.


Sneakers, slippers, high heels, flip-flops; I've seen them all. Mostly I see men's shoes. Or, they usually look to be adult-male sized. A spousal argument while driving home from work that lead Mrs. Smith to get so enraged she reached down and yanked Mr. Smith's wingtip off his foot and chucked it out the window?

Every so often I spot a child's shoe and it makes my heart ache a little as I wonder: How did it get there? Did Timmy have a fight with his little sister and throw her shoe out the window, or did something else happen? Something I don't want to think about.

I don't see anything else littering the highway, save for tire remnants or sometimes bits of bumper or other vehicle shrapnel. Shoes seem to be the only “human” paraphernalia that makes its way onto the freeway.

And it's never a pair. This is also something else I've noticed: I've yet to spot a pair of shoes, even a distance apart. There's always just one. A lonely, single shoe (that often looks quite dirty and roughed up), sitting sadly by the side as cars rush by. How is that we always seem to lose lone objects? Why can't we ever misplace both? It would make it so much easier as we wouldn't be left with the remaining teammate to deal with.

Even if I take a moment to think of the worst, why do those who clean up accident scenes not feel the need to pick up lone shoes? Is it a means of reminding drivers what could happen if they don't pay attention on the road? A subtle message we all subconsciously get as we spot the single sneaker left behind after the three-car pile-up from that morning: Drive carefully or all that could be left of you is your right shoe.

I'd like to envision highway shoes appearing in the same fashion as socks disappear in the washing machine.

You know that flip-flop was in the entrance yesterday, but where the hell is it now? Unbeknownst to you, it snuck out the front door and is making a bid for freedom, clutching to your front driver wheel-well, waiting for the perfect opportunity to jump free and start its hitchhiking journey across our great nation.

Yes, that must be what happens.

You think being connected to Facebook and Twitter 24/7 is good for your social life? Will your friends and family appreciate you more or feel closer knowing what you're up to at all hours of the day?


No. And they couldn't care less about that stupid Farmville game on Facebook, and wish you'd stop sending them invitations.

If you really want to improve your social life, get a pickup truck like the 2012 Ford F-150 FX4 SuperCrew. You see, rationally not many people should buy a pickup, but it's so damn handy that your friends and family will frequently be in touch with you, if only to borrow it.

EcoBoost muscle, not EcoBoost fuel consumption
Ford is currently selling crateloads of F-150s equipped with their twin-turbo 3.5L V6. This mighty mill produces 365 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque at a low 2,500 rpm, figures that trounce the FX4's standard-issue 5.0L V8. This F-150 is quick.

The 3.5L EcoBoost can also tow up to 11,100 lbs when equipped with the Max Trailer Tow Package, more than what the big 411-hp, 6.2L V8 can handle. Not bad for a V6.

Alas, Ford's presumption that the twin-turbo 3.5L engine delivers V8 power with V6 fuel economy is only half true. Our average of 14.5L/100km over the course of the week probably could've been matched by the 5.0L V8. And the EcoBoost doesn't sound as good as the V8; and the EcoBoost costs an extra $1,250. Food for thought.

The twin-turbo EcoBoost 3.5L V6 develops 365 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque, good for a max towing capacity of 11,100 lbs.(Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

Sweet ride
The Ford F-150 and Chrysler's Ram 1500 are nose-to-nose when it comes to ride quality. Improvements to the rear suspension in both trucks rid them of the jittery ride that plagued pickups for decades. Noise levels in the 2012 Ford F-150 are also kept to a minimum. This definitely is a farmer's luxury truck.

Need to haul a sofa? No sweat. Said sofa is longer than the bed? Again, Ford comes to the rescue with their trick fold-away bed extender which recesses into the sides of the bed and can be installed in seconds. The F-150's tailgate step and flip-out side steps also make tying down your belongings easy.

Too easy, in fact; your family and friends will keep your number on speed dial. Because, you know, everyone's got a sofa or a waterbed or an ATV or a fridge or a swimming pool to haul at some point. OK, probably not a swimming pool.

The F-150's tailgate step and flip-out side steps also make tying down your belongings easy. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

Luxury accoutrements
Our leather-lined 2012 Ford F-150 FX4 tester was nicely finished, although I'm not a big fan of easily scratched, silver-painted plastic trim and the F-150's dash is covered with the stuff.

We also got spoiled with cooled front seats, a navigation system, Bluetooth connectivity, power-adjustable pedals, a power sunroof and a backup camera. The latter is pretty much mandatory in a pickup, especially if you've never driven one before and are parking one of these behemoths at the local grocery store.

The driver also gets a color LCD display between the speedo and tach, with a comprehensive trip computer. The audio system sounds great, and a USB key can be plugged in to call up your favourite songs via voice command with the standard SYNC system. The fussy MyFord Touch isn't yet included in the F-150, but eventually will be.

A vast selection of features is offered in the F-150, such as cooled front seats, navigation, power-adjustable pedals and a power sunroof. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

You want choice? You got it
The 2012 Ford F-150 starts at just $19,999 for a base Regular Cab XL, but that's far from being the most interesting one. Our sporty looking FX4 SuperCrew 4x4 test truck is listed at $46,299, and when you add up the options included on it, the final tally is more than $57,000. A farmer's luxury truck, I said.

You can save a few thousand dollars by choosing an equivalent Ram 1500 Sport, equipped with a 5.7L V8 or spend a few thousand more on a loaded GMC Sierra 1500 Denali.

Yet the 2012 Ford F-150 is arguably the best full-size, light-duty pickup out there, albeit by a small margin because we also like the Ram 1500 a lot, too. We handed our 2012 Auto123.com Pickup Truck of the Year award to the Ford because it offers a wider selection of powertrains as well as little details that make life easier.

Your friends and family will approve, and will definitely hit the “like” button every time you post a picture of your F-150 on Facebook. They might even accept to play Farmville with you, knowing they'll soon have a sofa to haul around.

That grin on the Mazda MX-5's face is there probably because it's largely regarded as the most successful sports car of all time.


A tremendous level of simplicity has long helped this celebrated Japanese drop-top earn that title over the years. Simple is a good thing if you're trying to build a car that's light, fuel-efficient, fun and reliable.

In fact, the MX-5's uncomplicated roof-off motoring experience effectively captures the spirit of cool, old British roadsters without the leaks and catching fire in your driveway. It's a simplicity that's been honed and tweaked since the model debuted back in 1989.

Simple Looks and Cabin
The looks back this up. The 2012 Mazda MX-5 is free of gawdy add-ons and flashiness. The MX-5 wears its skin tightly, wastes no space and looks lightweight, agile and entertaining -- largely because it is. Dual exhausts and a wide, planted stance are noticed first, along with the roll-bars that signal the car's top-off intentions.

Inside the Mazda MX-5, look for four cupholders, a bit of storage, two seats, a slick instrument cluster, and little else. The up-level tester offered up heated leather and Bose Audio for a touch more sophistication and long-haul comfort.

The MX-5 wears its skin tightly, wastes no space and looks lightweight, agile and entertaining -- largely because it is. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

Under the Skin
And though at a glance it looks scarcely more menacing than a pink frosted raspberry cupcake, the 2012 Mazda MX-5 packs a wicked punch under its sheet metal via a sophisticated, track-validated, multilink suspension that anchors it all to the road. Billstien shocks and thick stabilizer bars work to generate direct, rewarding responses to every input.

A 2L 4-cylinder with 167 horsepower drives the rear wheels through a quick-shifting, 6-speed stick. It's a modest power figure that, without a lot of mass to move, proves plenty for whisking the 2012 Mazda MX-5 up to speed in a hurry.

The MZR-series powerplant is peppy and loves to rev, and the transmission's fairly short gears allow for pleasing, full-throttle romps through first, second and third while staying out of demerit-point territory.

The shift action in the 2012 Mazda MX-5 is about the best you'll find anywhere, and pedal placement allows for easy heel-and-toe shifting, and changing gears is most rewarding when done spiritedly.

The 2012 Mazda MX-5 packs a wicked punch under its sheet metal via a sophisticated, track-validated, multilink suspension that anchors it all to the road. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

Track It
To take in some spirited driving, I did what many MX-5 owners do on weekends: took it to the track. While I was there, I learned that this is a hell of a machine to drive the living bejezus out of.

Since the 2012 Mazda MX-5's got far more grip than power output, it's un-intimidating and forgiving to drive at its limit. Pushing too hard results in a little rear-end squirm, rather than a surprise trip backwards into the rhubarb. The MX-5 sticks all day long, goes like heck and attacks corners in a way a heavier car can't. The virtually perfect front-to-rear weight balance helps here, too.

The stability control system is tuned perfectly allowing you to feel the Mazda MX-5's every move, while only intervening for the nastiest slip-ups to keep you on the tarmac.

Expect instant, direct responses to steering, braking and throttle inputs. Once you get the hang of this car, it'll leave you absolutely grinning all day long. Shame it doesn't look more menacing because the 2012 Mazda MX-5 is an obedient little weapon for racetrack driving.

Brake fade is very minimal, and the modest weight means drivers can lap it hard all day long without excessive brake wear, or leaving the tires chunked-up and worn out.

Plus, with the roof off, there's headroom aplenty with a helmet on and a great peripheral view around the car -- key to confidently placing the 2012 Mazda MX-5 within its surroundings.

Even novice lappers will feel like race-car drivers, and skill levels increase, the car is right there with you. And since the roof doesn't store in the trunk, there's room for a pair of helmets, a bag and a cooler full of track-day drinks and sandwiches.

Sensible
Best of all, you'll drive to and from the track in comfort, getting great mileage, and lap it all day long on about 35 litres of gas.

Other notes? The powerful heater and aerodynamics work to help keep heat in the cabin with the top down, and the 2012 Mazda MX-5 can be enjoyed down to nearly the freezing mark with little more than a light jacket. Also, it rides better on public roads than its track-going performance suggests.

You'll drive to and from the track in comfort, getting great mileage, and lap it all day long on about 35 litres of gas. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

Complaints? Bigger guys like me will feel like they're wearing the MX-5, and with all that grip and balance, you'll likely want to empty your bank account on performance-enhancing parts before long. It is on the noisy side at speed, too.

At the end of the day, as a weekend getaway machine, a cost-effective weekend racer or an entertaining and fuel-efficient commuter, this smiley little Mazda MX-5 hits the mark.

From GMM

Two months before the venue's inaugural US grand prix, Charlie Whiting is in Austin to inspect the brand new Circuit of the Americas.

Photo released on September 13, 2012. (Photo: Circuit of the Americas)

The Austin American Statesman newspaper reports that F1's race director, safety delegate and technical development chief must give Austin the nod "or there will be no" grand prix in mid November.

Photo released on September 13, 2012. (Photo: Circuit of the Americas)

Whiting's first inspection of the bespoke circuit was in June, and he said afterwards: "It is clear that the significant resources Circuit of the Americas has committed to completing this facility on time and to FIA specifications is making a difference."

Photo released on September 13, 2012. (Photo: Circuit of the Americas)

From GMM

F1 is staying on Singapore's streets, with a touted move to a bespoke circuit near the city-state's Changhi airport now off the table, according to Speed Week.

Last weekend, just ahead of the fifth highly popular grand prix under Singapore's dark skies, it was announced that F1 is staying put at least until 2017.

"Less well known," reported the German-language Speed Week, "is that the plans for a new facility at Changhi airport are now off the table."

The report, however, said a tweaked street layout could be on the cards for the future.

Photo: Lotus F1 Team

By far the least popular feature of the existing track among the drivers is the notorious turn 10 chicane.

"I think we've discussed it many times, every year actually, to find a better solution," said world champion and 2012 Singapore winner Sebastian Vettel.

"In terms of safety, I think that's one of the worst corners we have on the calendar and I think (it's) something we need to work on. It probably requires to take a little bit of land from the cricket club for those couple of days or maybe remove the pavement for three or four days. I don't know, but if you consider the costs for this whole event, I think taking a pavement away and putting it back on shouldn't be a big problem," he said.

From GMM

New GP2 champion Davide Valsecchi is hoping his crown is the ticket to formula one.

Every single past GP2 champion - Nico Rosberg, Lewis Hamilton, Timo Glock, Giorgio Pantano, Nico Hulkenberg, Pastor Maldonado and Romain Grosjean - has raced in F1.

25-year-old Italian Valsecchi, who secured the title by 25 points over Luiz Razia at the Singapore season finale last weekend, hopes the trend continues.

He said his immediate goal is to find a seat for F1's final young drivers test for 2012, in Abu Dhabi in November.

Photo: GP2 Series

And asked what the next target will be, Davide Valsecchi answered: "I don't know, but in Italy they always say there is no Italian driver in formula one, but before now who deserved it? I really hope to have the chance, because at the moment we are strong enough to use it, so I really hope I will have a chance, and that I can show that I deserve to be there.

"I would sign right now," he laughed. "Next week, if you were going to Japan, I would come with you."

Garett Grist will be part of the world-renowned Formula Ford Festival at Brand Hatch, UK as the 2012 Team Canada Scholarship winner.

The Team Canada Scholarship committee announced that Grist was the 2012 winner of the prestigious Canadian racing scholarship.

The up-and-coming young driver from Grimsby will represent Canada at the 41st running of the prestigious Formula Ford Festival in Great Britain.

Photo: Garett Grist Facebook

Grist will be driving a Cliff Dempsey Racing prepared Ray FF1600 and will go head-to-head against the best Kent-powered F1600 racers in the world during the famous Formula Ford Festival on October 27-28.

Grist becomes the second-ever winner of the Team Canada Scholarship, following a good season in the competitive F1600 Formula F Championship Series. Grist is currently fourth in the standings, with three podium visits as a rookie driving for series newcomers Bryan Herta Autosport.