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As mentioned in a previous blog, it was an an utterly terrific Paris show first press day and there is much to share. So, here's some more news, highlights, thoughts and observations.

News 28 Sep, 2012

Steve Fowler on what the car makers' new bosses have in store for us

European supplier body, CLEPA, has hailed the UK's efforts to provide creative funding and training as a model for other markets to follow in straitened times.

GKN Driveline says it continues to see growth among European premium customers, despite conceding the Continent is undergoing increasing turmoil on its southern periphery.

Former CLEPA CEO, Lars Holmqvist, says he is "convinced" further details surrounding Saab's painful descent into bankruptcy will emerge as previous CEO, Victor Muller launches his EUR3bn lawsuit against General Motors.

News 28 Sep, 2012

Our road test editor picks his stars of the 2012 Paris Motor Show

UPDATE: Whoever you are, wherever you are, take a moment to think of Chris Economaki. Make it your personal tribute, however brief, to this grand old man of auto racing journalists because he left us late Thursday, Sept.

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne and Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn resolved a dispute that threatened to paralyze Europe's main car lobby group as the region's market sinks to a 17-year low.

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne and Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn resolved a dispute that threatened to paralyze Europe's main car lobby group as the region's market sinks to a 17-year low.

Fisker Automotive says it has completed the initial closing of its current equity financing, representing in excess of US$100 million of new funding.

Hyundai Mobis plans to establish new large-scale distribution centres in the US, China, Russia and Brazil over the next year.

Carmakers dealing with economic gloom and weak consumer appetite in the battered European market pointed toward inevitable cuts to plant capacity and labor costs at the Paris auto show, as hopes for a quick recovery appeared to recede.

Nissan has agreed to buy back two of the seven Leaf electric cars whose owners in Arizona have publicly raised concerns about aging batteries.

From GMM

Carlos Ghosn, the chief executive of Renault, said he does not regret keeping the Paris-based carmaker in formula one.

Renault no longer owns and runs its own team, but amid the manufacturer exodus of a few years ago, the marque chose to stay on the grid as an engine supplier.

"We are involved and we want to stay, definitely," Ghosn said at the Paris motor show.

Carlos Ghosn at the 2012 Paris motor show. (Photo: Renault)

"We made the right decision around 2008-2009, when many others like Toyota, Honda and BMW left completely. We stayed," he is quoted by the Russian website f1news.ru. "We supply engines to a team (Red Bull) that has already won two titles and still leads this constructors' championship."

Renault Sport F1 also supplies customer engines to Lotus, Williams and Caterham, and is actively developing a V6 unit for the new rules in 2014.

"We will stay in formula one -- we have a lot of obligations," said Ghosn.

Renault and Red Bull Racing agreed to a technical partnership in F1. (Photo: Red Bull Racing)

Meanwhile, Ghosn said he "understands" the French government's decision to refuse financial support to grand prix projects proposed by Paul Ricard and Magny Cours.

"In the current situation it is necessary to use the budget for primary needs," he said.

Miguel Molina (Audi) set the best performance in the first free practice session in Valencia, Round 9 of the 2012 DTM championship.

This first session was held in the rain.

Miguel Molina, Aiudi (photo: dtm.com)

The Spaniard set his best lap in 1m37'.547 ahead of his teammate Timo Scheider and Augusto Farfus' BMW.

The best Mercedes driver was Ralf Schumacher who was classified 5th, 1.2 seconds slower than Molina.

Concerning the title contenders, Canadian Bruno Spengler (BMW) was in the best position, as he ranked 8th overall, 1.6 seconds down to Molina.

Mercedes drivers Gary Paffett and Jamie Green had a difficult practice session, taking 17th and 19th position, respectively.

From press release

The Mercedes AMG team announces a three-year agreement with Lewis Hamilton, from the 2013 season.

Lewis is one of four drivers, along with Juan Manuel Fangio, Mika Häkkinen and Jenson Button, to have won the Formula One world championship with Mercedes-Benz power. With 20 Formula One victories, he is equal with Mika Häkkinen as the most successful Mercedes-Benz Formula One driver.

The recruitment of the 2008 world champion marks the start of a new chapter for the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team. Lewis will replace Michael Schumacher, who has contributed significantly to the development of the Silver Arrows works team over the past three years.

Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) fighting at Monza in 2011 with Michael Schumacher (Mercedes). (Photo: WRi2)

In parallel, Mercedes-Benz has put in place the right technical structure and given the team in Brackley and Brixworth the tools it needs to achieve long-term, durable success in Formula One. In the near future, three-time world champion Niki Lauda will also bring his extensive experience to the role of non-executive chairman of the team's board of directors, further reinforcing the strength in depth at MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS.

Michael Schumacher
“I have had three nice years with the team which unfortunately did not go as well as we all would have wanted on the sporting side. I wish Lewis well and for the team to achieve the success we worked so hard for in the build-up. I would like to thank the team for their trust and all the guys for their unconditional commitment. I will now concentrate on the next races.”

Lewis Hamilton
“It is now time for me to take on a fresh challenge and I am very excited to begin a new chapter racing for the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team. Mercedes-Benz has such an incredible heritage in motorsport, along with a passion for winning which I share.
“Together, we can grow and rise to this new challenge. I believe that I can help steer the Silver Arrows to the top and achieve our joint ambitions of winning the world championships.”

One podium until now for Michael Schumacher with Mercedes AMG. (Photo: WRi2)

Ross Brawn, Team Principal
"On behalf of MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS, I would first of all like to thank Michael Schumacher for the important contribution he has made to the growth of our team over the past three seasons. His energy and commitment have never wavered, even when results have not matched our own expectations, and we are determined to finish the 2012 season together on a high. As always, it has been a pleasure to work with Michael. 

"Looking ahead to 2013, I am delighted to welcome Lewis Hamilton to our team. The arrival of a driver of Lewis' calibre is a testament to the standing of Mercedes-Benz in Formula One and I am proud that Lewis shares our vision and ambition for the success of the Silver Arrows."

Norbert Haug, Vice President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport
"Mercedes-Benz has supported Lewis throughout his career, from karting, to Formula 3, to our successful partnership with McLaren, and it will be a very nice moment for all of us in the team to see him at the wheel of a works Silver Arrow next season, following in the tradition of British Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix drivers Sir Stirling Moss and Richard Seaman.

"Of course, it takes a great driver to replace such a legendary and successful one as Michael Schumacher. Over the past three years, Michael has been a great driver and an exemplary ambassador for MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS. His experience has been an important factor in guiding the development of our team in Brackley and we extend our sincere thanks to Michael for his loyalty, team play and commitment. We will be working very hard together in order to achieve the best possible results in the remainder of the 2012 season."

A meeting of the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) took place Friday September 29 in Paris and the 2013 calendar of the 2013 Formula 1 championship was approved.

In a press release, Jean Todt, the President of the FIA confirmed that positive and constructive discussions continue with regard to the new Concorde Agreement and it is anticipated a contract will be signed by the end of October.

Following a fax vote by the Technical Working Group, the 2013 Sporting and Technical Regulations were approved by the WMSC.

The 2013 FIA Formula 1 World Championship calendar is confirmed as follows:

17/03 AUS Grand Prix of Australia
24/03 MYS Grand Prix of Malaysia
14/04 CHN Grand Prix of China
21/04 BHR Grand Prix of Bahrain
12/05 ESP Grand Prix of Spain (Barcelona)
26/05 MCO Grand Prix of Monaco
09/06 CAN Grand Prix of Canada
16/06 USA Grand Prix of Jersey (New York) *
30/06 GBR Grand Prix of Great Britain
14/07 DEU Grand Prix of Germany
28/07 HUN Grand Prix of Hungary
25/08 BEL Grand Prix of Belgium
08/09 ITA Grand Prix of Italy
22/09 SGP Grand Prix of Singapore
06/10 KOR Grand Prix of Korea
13/10 JPN Grand Prix of Japan
27/10 IND Grand Prix of India
03/11 ARE Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi
17/11 USA Grand Prix of USA (Austin)
24/11 BRA Grand Prix of Brazil

* To Be Confirmed

From press release

Takuma Sato will make his sports prototype debut with OAK Racing at the FIA World Endurance Championship rounds in Asia this October when the team returns to the LMP1 class following its switch to Honda Performance Development engines.

And the 35-year-old former Formula 1 driver has now been lined up to contest the WEC's final two rounds at Fuji (13/14 October) and Shanghai (27/28) aboard the Onroak Automotive designed and built No. 15 OAK/Pescarolo LMP1, which is now powered by HPD's proven AR6-LMV8 powerplant.

Photo: OAK Racing

The team's regular LMP1 drivers Bertrand Baguette and Dominik Kraihamer will also return to the car's cockpit alongside Sato in Asia.

Sato drove the car during a shakedown at Magny-Cours circuit in France Thursday where the new HPD engine and OAK LMP1 chassis were tested together for the first time.

A further full day of running is scheduled for Friday when Sato will have more time to familiarise himself with the car.

During its meeting held Friday in the offices of the FIA in Paris, the World Council of Motor Sport rubber stamped the 2013 calendar of the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC).

The calendar is made of 13 rounds. The season will begin in March in Spain and will conclude on November 17 in the streets of Macau.

WTCC 2013 calendar:

10/03 ESP TBA*
24/03 ITA Monza*
07/04 TBA TBA*
28/04 SVK Slovakiaring*
05/05 HUN Hungaroring
19/05 AUT Salzburgring
09/06 RUS Moscow Raceway*
30/06 PRT Porto*
21/07 BRA Curitiba*
15/09 USA Sonoma*
13/10 CHN Shangai*
27/10 JPN Suzuka
17/11 MAC Macau*

Spare dates: 04/08, 25/08
* Subject to ASN's confirmation

The Federation Internationale de l'Automobile has released the calendar of the 2013 World Endurance Championship.

Next year's calendar features eight events, with some notable changes such as the exit of the 12 Hours of Sebring, which usually opened the season.

The Sebring event will move under the Grand-Am umbrella, and the season will now start at Silverstone on April 14. The US raqce will be staged on the brand new Circuit of the Americas in September.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans will still be the highlight of the season, and will take place June 22-23.

The season will end in Bahrain November 30 , the event has been moved in order to provide lowest temperatures (the 2012 Bahrain race is ran this week end).

Audi and Toyota will finally fight at Spa-Francorchamps, in May 2013. (Photo: Toyota)

2013 World Endurance Championship calendar:

14 April - Round 1 - 6 Hours of Silverstone GBR

04 May - Round 2 - WEC 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps BEL

22/23 June - Round 3 - 24 Heures du Mans FRA

24 August - Round 4 - 6 Hours of Sao Paulo BRA

22 September - Round 5 - 6 Hours of Austin * USA

20 October - Round 6 - 6 Hours of Fuji JPN

10 November - Round 7 - 6 Hours of Shanghai * CHN

30 November - Round 8 - 6 Hours of Bahrain BAH

*to be confirmed