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From Best-of-rallylive

The 34th Dakar will start from Lima, Peru, on January 5, 2013. The event features an 8,574km route, including 4,155km of competitive action, and finishes in Santiago, Chile.

The entry includes the past four winners of the celebrated cross-country rally, namely Stephane Peterhansel, Nasser Al-Attiyah, Carlos Sainz and Giniel de Villiers.

Peterhansel, who has won the event 10 times from 23 starts (six on two wheels, and four in a car), will spearhead the X-Raid Team effort which includes six MINI ALL4 Racings (new production three-litre bi-turbo diesel engine), 10 service trucks and two competing trucks.

The Frenchman will have a new co-driver, Jean-Paul Cottret, while Michel Périn will be back to navigate Spaniard Nani Roma who is still chasing after his first Dakar victory on four wheels. X-Raid Team's line-up also includes Russia's Leonid Novitskiy, Pole Krzysztof Holowczyc and rookies Boris Garafulic and Stephan Schotts. Argentina's Terranova will also be in the team, but in a BMW X3 CC.

In 2012, the new Toyota Hilux (V8 4.6-litre petrol engine) was surprisingly competitive for its debut. This January will see a six-car entry led by South Africans Giniel de Villiers and Vos Duncan (Toyota Imperial South Africa), along with four cars run by the Belgian team Overdrive for Lucio Alvarez, Peter Van Merksteijn and Poles Szymon Ruta and Adam Malysz.

Overdrive's boss Jean-Marc Fortin has dropped his role as co-driver to Holowczyc to better look after his team which collected an encouraging one-two finish on the Qatar Sealine Cross Country Rally, while Alvarez was fourth on the Silk Way Rally.

The newly-formed Qatar Red Bull Rally Team will have buggies (2WD, V8 seven-litre petrol V8 engines) for ex-winners Nasser Al-Attiyah and Carlos Sainz. Another top two-wheel drive runner will be the USA's Robby Gordon (Hummer) who was excluded in 2012.

SMG has entered five cars: three 2WD buggies (V8 petrol engine) for Guerlain Chicherit, Ronan Chabot and Bernard Errandonea, plus two 4x4 Great-Walls (based on the BMW X3 CC) for Carlos Souza and Yong Zhou.

Other leading entries include three Dessoude ‘prototypes: two new Juke buggies (2WD, diesel two-litre bi-turbo engine) for Christian Lavieille and Stephane Wintenberger, and an ‘Atacama' for Frederic Chavigny.

Eric Vigouroux returns in a Protruck Chevrolet, while Dutchman Bernhard Ten Brinke is back in a Ford HRX V8 prototype (Riwald Dakar Team). There will be Aston Martin-engined Mitsubishi prototypes, too, for Brazil's Guilherme Spinelli and Dutchman Erik Van Loon.

The seven-time German Rally Champion Matthias Kahle will be contesting the Dakar for the fifth time in a SAM-Mercedes (2WD, three-litre turbo diesel V6). MD Rallye Sport has entered eight buggies, including three Optimus V8s (five-litre Ford 380hp petrol engines) for Thomasse, Vasseur and Vandromme.

The total entry exceeds 150 cars.

Montreal, Quebec -- General Motors is working hard post-bailout to bring the North American market affordable, economical cars that the buying public want.


In no time flat they've unleashed what is, IMO, the best Chevy product in 25 years, the Cruze, followed closely by a subcompact Sonic and now, the new 2013 Chevrolet Spark.

The global Spark has already been on sale in other markets for the last three years. The arrival of the Spark in NA coincides with its mid-cycle refresh. A few minor improvements were made specifically for Canada and the USA; I'll get to them later.

This car is, without a doubt, aimed at a younger crowd much like the Sonic. Therein lays the problem. GM dealers and marketing have a daunting task ahead of them with these three cars that will be neatly slotted side-by-side in showrooms. In a nutshell, the Spark starts at $13,495; the Sonic sedan at $14,495; and the Cruze LS at $14,995. How to differentiate the ins-and-outs of these like-minded cars will be tough.

Here's what I think of the 2013 Chevrolet Spark:

Sparkly on the outside
The person who designed the Spark was most likely unhampered by some old guy micromanaging his or her every decision. Should there have been? Only time will tell. I say this because, like the Sonic, there is some disparity between the levels of attention given to the front, sides and rear of the car. In my mind though, the Spark is a far better looking and finished product than the Sonic 5-door.

One need only look at the body-line creases, crazy headlights and mostly well integrated rear tails and spoiler to see that GM followed through with this car's design.

This car is, without a doubt, aimed at a younger crowd much like the Sonic. (Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre)

Not so much on the inside...
The cabin is fair and ergonomically laid out, but falls flat when lined up beside that of the Sonic. The simplistic dash motif will fail to capture the attention of the sub-25-year-olds. The ability to select from many interior/exterior color combinations may help, but I'm not quite sure it'll be enough.

What may save the game is the optional $1,000 Audio & Connectivity package that includes a 7" diagonal, colour touchscreen. It may be the most intuitive system I've ever encountered.

Another worthy accessory is the BringGo navigation. It is an embedded app that -- for a one-time fee that should hover around $50 -- acts as a navigation system that is accessible through the Audio & Connectivity package's screen.

The 2013 Chevrolet Spark will accommodate up to four passengers in decent comfort. Elbows may touch and knees may get grabbed, but leg and headroom up front are vast for such a diminutive car. The rear is cozy, but better than acceptable depending on the fore and aft positioning of the front seats.

In the growing microcar segment, the Spark currently holds the title of largest boot at 323 litres, that is if you don't consider the smart fortwo's rating of 340 litres which includes piling stuff up to the roof.

The cabin is fair and ergonomically laid out. (Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre)

The Spark
That which gives the Spark its name (not really) is its 1.25L ECOTEC 4-cylinder engine. This is one of the minor improvements that have been made. Elsewhere, the Spark runs with a 1.2L... Rated at 85 hp and 82 lb-ft of torque, the motor is lively and far less buzz-y than I expected.

Transmission choices are seemingly stuck in 2002. Unfortunately, the Spark has to make do with a 5-speed manual -- OK, I guess -- or an optional, dismal 4-speed automatic and not a 6-speed as with the Sonic or Cruze. As the majority of cars available for driving were fitted with the autobox, it is the only one I evaluated.

The 4-speed is a fun-killer; it works fine with what it has, but resists downshifts and holds gears as long as it can when accelerating. In 4th, at 100 km/h, engine revs are kept well below 3,000 rpm. Another upgrade made to the Spark for us is enhanced sound absorption. This ,and a low-revving engine, create a fairly quiet environment.

That which gives the Spark its name (not really) is its 1.25L ECOTEC 4-cylinder engine. (Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre)

Better than expected ride
The 2013 Chevrolet Spark holds its own where ride quality is concerned. The larger tires and softer-tuned suspension (more changes for NA) provide a well controlled ride. The electric power-assisted steering generates a tad too much assistance for my liking, but around town driver input efforts are next to nil.

The Spark is an agile, urban car that is decently well suited for highway travel, so long as passing manoeuvres are calculated. Merging produces the same challenges, however, it is no worse for wear when compared with the Scion iQ, smart fortwo or Fiat 500.

An important reason for the existence of this car is its expected frugality. According to GM, the Spark should consume fuel at a rate of between 5 and 5.5L per 100 km. These numbers slot it between the iQ and the 500, and tie it up with the fortwo.

The larger tires and softer-tuned suspension (more changes for NA) provide a well controlled ride. (Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre)

The Spark
Small need not equal unsafe. As per usual, GM's latest cars are packed with safety features and they include Stabilitrak, 10 airbags, some ultra-strength steel and, as a unique feature, hill hold.

Entering the microcar segment is a new foray for GM. This is their first attempt at this type of car and on its own; the Spark is solid enough to do well. Chevrolet peeps expect that the base LS trim should take up to 50% of sales, with a few options.

Pricing starts at $13,495 in base LS trim. Consider this: $13,495 + $1,300 (auto box) + $1,000 (A/C) + $1,000 (for the Audio & Connectivity package) = $16,795. At this price, the car is not equipped with power door locks or mirrors. The poor price inconsistency will ultimately hurt the car as the price/value/equipment balance is off.

The Spark is another car that, on paper, offers everything that the youthful buyer is looking for: be it styling, gadgets, connectivity, or fuel economy -- all on a budget and all elements the marketing gurus think the young peeps want. Once again, only time will tell how it all unfolds.

Interestingly, GM has announced the coming of a Spark EV as early as the 2014 MY.

Construction of the $200 million US Russian Formula 1 circuit for the first Grand Prix of Russia is on schedule, according to Formula Sochi officials.

A press release published by Formula Sochi said: "Many massive Olympic venues are already built, some sport facilities have been put in commission, while the motorsport venue is in the active phase of construction. Construction crews are making good progress with the preparing of groundworks and laying of the asphalt coat. The first layer of pavement has been laid in some areas."

Construction of the pit building. (Photo: Formula Sochi)

German architect, Hermann Tilke, said to DPA News agency: “I can say that everything is going according to schedule. Everything is fine. We'll be able to build the track in time, which means by 2014.”

The race control building is said to be near completion, with installation works at the pit complex due to get underway in the spring.

The new road courses should be ready to host Russia's maiden Grand Prix in 2014, the same year as the Winter Olympics.

From FIA

Formula 1's stewards explained how technical improvements and the presence of ex-drivers on the adjudicating panels at races have made the decision-making process in the sport easier.

At a meeting chaired by F1 race director Charlie Whiting, the stewards praised the recent introduction of readily available real-time telemetry and added that the presence of former and current racing drivers on the stewarding panels has been a benefit.

The stewards noted that while some former drivers may not have a thorough knowledge of F1's Sporting and Technical Regulations, their ability to immediately understand how and why on-track actions may have been taken is invaluable.

Romain Grosjean's crash at the start of the Grand Prix of Belgium, 2012. (Photo: WRI2)

A recent introduction to the process has been the delivery of a set of race to all stewards on the FIA panel following each Grand Prix, including stewards who did not officiate at the race in question. The stewards present at the meeting all acknowledged the value of these notes in achieving consistency in their decisions.

Consistency was a particular theme of Jean Todt's remarks to the meeting. The FIA president told the stewards that “rather then always applying penalties you must analyse the consequences of the penalties. Consistency, for me, is crucial”.

Todt added: “You have a very difficult job but you are now better supported by all the electronic facilities which help in analysing incidents. The only thing you should now concentrate on, other than the good job you are doing, is how to do it better. It would be good to speak to your partners, the teams and the drivers, who can give you good input.”

Finally, the stewards were supportive of a proposal to introduce a penalty points system on F1 superlicences. This would work in the same way as the road licence systems in operation in many countries and breaches of regulations would lead to the accrual of points until a certain threshold was reached, at which point a driver would receive a race ban.

Fiat's new Europe chief, Alfredo Altavilla, faces many daunting challenges to turn around the automaker's struggling operations in the region.

All children of the world are sure to get their Christmas presents on time this year, since Santa Clause won't use his good old sleigh but rather a brand new Lamborghini Aventador -- at least that's what the Italian automaker wants us to believe with this video.

How's that for a trade-off: 8 reindeer for 700 horses!

The contributors of Auto123.com Racing are taking a day off and are sending you their best wishes for happy holidays.

May the good times and treasures of the present become the golden memories of tomorrow.

Wish you lots of love, joy and happiness on this very special day.

Happy Holidays and a Merry Christmas to all our readers around the globe!

If the planet suddenly runs out of crude oil, how will we continue to commute and will this new mode of propulsion be fun?


The answer might just be in electric cars, and since there are many ways to generate and store electricity it might just be the solution we're looking for. Electric cars might be able to solve the problem, but will these vehicles appeal to the petrol heads of the world?

Tesla thinks they will. This California-based car company burst onto the scene out of nowhere just a few years ago, headed by the man who invented PayPal: Elon Musk.

His first car, the Tesla Roadster, was heavily based on the Lotus Elise. While the packaging worked, it was not without its problems, chief among them were the practicality and price.

I drove the Tesla Roadster a couple of years ago and simply loved the instant acceleration and the fact that this was an electric car that had a usable range. At the same time, it was just as difficult to get in and out of as a Lotus Elise, and had the ride quality of a skateboard. Oh, and at $125,000 for a base model it wasn't exactly affordable.

However, the Roadster is in the past; so what does Tesla have in store for the future?

To begin, they just launched their new car called the Model S. Unlike the Roadster, this is an all-new car with its own chassis -- which was designed by Huibert Mees, the same guy who did the chassis on the Ford GT. The body was penned by Franz Von Holzhausen, a former Mazda designer.

The Model S is the replacement for the Tesla Roadster. (Photo: Nauman Farooq)

At a recent Tesla drive event, I got to see this attractive vehicle firsthand. The design might remind some of the Jaguar XF from certain angles -- only better.

To check out the interior, you have to open the door by pressing on the flush-mounted handles, which pop out automatically. The design of the handles is very neat, but we'll have to see how well they work in the winter, with snow on the car.

Get inside and you'll find that the interior is not only very spacious (you can have either a Tesla Model S as a five-seater or in a seven-seat layout) and well put together, but is also a geek's paradise.

The main attraction is the 17" centre console touchscreen display. This screen not only allows you to control the climate control, stereo and navigation, but you can even access the web through it. You'll also use the screen to unlock the hood, the trunk and the flap that hides the charging point.

Techno wizardry is fine, but what is the car like when you use it as a car?

Get inside and you'll find that the interior is not only very spacious and well put together, but is also a geek's paradise. (Photo: Nauman Farooq)

To find out, I got the chance to take one on a short drive. The route had city and highway driving involved, which would give a good overview of what the Tesla Model S was like as an everyday car.

The first thing you'll notice is just how quiet it is. The Tesla Model S moves away so silently... In comparison, a spa might sound like a rock concert. The quietness remains even at higher speeds, so whoever did the sound deadening on this car knew what they were doing.

Then there is the performance, which does depend on which model you choose. The Model S will be available with three different battery packs: 40 kWh, 60 kWh and 85 kWh. The base battery will give you a range of roughly 260 km on a full charge, while the midsize battery will extend the range by another 110 km.

The top-of-the-line 85 kWh battery allows you to travel roughly 480 km on a full charge, which is very impressive. A full charge from a 240 volt outlet takes roughly 4-5 hours for different battery sizes.

As a halo model, Tesla is even offering what they call the Performance version of the Model S, which sports the 85 kWh battery and produces 416 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. This model can sprint from 0-96 km/h in just 4.4 seconds, and the top speed is electronically limited to 210 km/h. Power goes to just the rear wheels through a single-speed gearbox.

The version I drove had the 85 kWh battery, but it was not the Performance model. My test car had 362 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque, and it could do the 0-96 km/h sprint in 5.6 seconds and top out at 201 km/h.

My test car had 362 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque, and it could do the 0-96 km/h sprint in 5.6 seconds and top out at 201 km/h. (Photo: Tesla)

Trust me, this was quick enough. I loved how responsive the Tesla Model S is to your accelerator inputs, and also loved the feel of the steering (which has three firmness settings which can be selected by -- you guessed it -- the touchscreen display).

The Tesla Model S will be on sale in Canada by this October. Canadian prices have just been announced, and they start at $64,500 for the 40 kWh version. the 60 kWh version is yours from $75,200 and the 85 kWh version starts at $85,900. These prices do not include government green car rebates, depending on the province you're in.

Will the Model S work for everyone? Probably not at the moment. Our cities are just not set up for electric cars just yet, but that infrastructure is coming. Will the Model S be reliable? We'll have to wait and see, however, the battery does have an eight-year warranty. The car itself has a four-year, 80,000 km warranty.

The Model S might not be the perfect car for everyone, but it is a perfect example of what driving will be like in the future, and the future does look bright. In short, this family sedan is truly fun to drive. The fact that it's kind to the environment is just an added bonus.

Mercedes-Benz Canada broke ground for a new dealership in Peterborough, Ontario on Thursday, December 19th. On hand for the event were Tim A. Reuss, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Canada, Daryl Bennett, Mayor of Peterborough, as well as Peter and Michael Santos, owners of Mercedes-Benz Peterborough.

Construction of the modern building will begin immediately on a two-acre site located on Crawford Drive, right off Highway 115.

The new 8,000 square foot showroom will triple the current sales capacity for Mercedes-Benz Peterborough. Meanwhile, the 10,000 square foot service area with seven state-of-the-art bays, including an oversized bay designed to accommodate the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, will double service capabilities.

Elsewhere, owners of the upcoming smart fortwo electric drive will have access to three dedicated charging stations.

The new Mercedes-Benz Peterborough follows the proprietary "Autohaus" concept, with extensive use of glass to maintain transparency and create a bright, open concept feeling -- similar to the recently announced new dealerships in Vancouver, BC and St-Nicolas, Quebec.

"We are extremely delighted to continue our investment and devotion to both Mercedes-Benz Canada and to the City of Peterborough," said Michael Santos, General Manager of Mercedes-Benz Peterborough. "We have seen tremendous growth in our business since its inception in March 2011, and this new facility is a monumental period in our company's development. We look forward to providing customers with an overall experience that is commensurate with the Mercedes-Benz brand when we are fully operational in our new home."

Photo: Mercedes-Benz

I'm hoping vehicle manufacturers stop, look at the infotainment/hmi/in-car technology they have in the works, and ask, and#8220;Could a child use this system to the extent it was intended?and#8221; This is how simple these systems need to be in order to...

Investors cheered General Motors' announcement last week that it will buy 200 million GM shares from the government. But what about car buyers?

Toyota was the first automaker to bring a compact crossover to the United States. But since 1995, Toyota's dominance of the segment has eroded. It now resides in fourth place in the segment sales race.

Lexus' 552-hp V-10 halo car, the LFA sports coupe, drives into the sunset at an awkward time for the luxury brand.

Fiat and PSA/Peugeot Citroen will continue their cooperation on light commercial vehicles despite PSA's alliance with General Motors.

Fiat's new Europe chief, Alfredo Altavilla, faces many daunting challenges to turn around the automaker's struggling operations in the region.

Light vehicle sales growth in the United States is projected to slow in 2013, though for the first time since 2007, most forecasts say dealers will sell more than 15 million new cars and trucks.

Marc Heitz, a major Chevrolet dealer in Oklahoma, last week sold his hunting lodge-style store in Norman rather than change the facade and interior to comply with General Motors' facilities standards.

From Supercar News

The Canadian Supercar Series (Supercar) is proud to announce its 2013 schedule. This first full-season calendar will feature eight races over four weekends on several of the most famous road courses in Canada.

The Canadian Supercar Series (Supercar) is a car racing series for high performance and exotic race cars with typically over 400 horsepower. Supercar provides an environment for drivers to showcase their cars and to challenge other car makes of similar performance. Supercar encourages hard but fair competition under a code of respectful driving.

Opening this first season on May 18th and 19th at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park for the Victoria Day Speedfest weekend will be an exciting challenge for the racers as this event attracts a large audience. Two events are planned in Québec, one of which will take place at Circuit ICAR in Mirabel on July 6th and 7th.

A must stop for Supercar is definitely the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières on August 9th to 11th. In 2012, Supercar presented its inaugural race where the historical Mayor's Cup was rededicated and won by the Trifluvian Jean-François Dumoulin.

The final and fourth event of the season for Supercar will be on September 6th to 8th at Calabogie Motorsports Park.

“Having experienced great success this summer in Trois-Rivières, and with the enthusiasm of the participating drivers, this first full-season calendar answers their wishes”, mentioned John Bondar, President of the new Canadian Supercar Series.

“This series is in development and my expectation for this series is to fill a demand. This first full-season schedule allows for the drivers to get acquainted with the format and the rules that encourage hard but fair competition under a code of respectful driving.”

Supercar 2013 Schedule
May 18-19 - Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (Bowmanville, ON)
July 6-7 - Circuit ICAR (Mirabel, QC)
August 9-11 - Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières (Trois-Rivières, QC) September 7-8 - Calabogie Motorsports Park (Calabogie, ON)

From IndyCar

Watch the stars of the IZOD IndyCar Series poke fun at themselves or each other.

From series press release

Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin series competitors have received an early Christmas present with the release of their 2013 season schedule.

In its third year of existence, the thriving young series and its competitors will be challenged by several of Canada's finest racing venues.

The 2013 schedule will feature five race weekends highlighted by a new stop at the famed Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières and a return to the Grand Prix du Canada FIA Formula One World Championship weekend in Montreal.

"The 2012 season established the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin as the fastest growing single-make series in North America," said Steven Sewell, Director of the IMSA Development Series.

"For 2013 we're focused on further elevating the visibility and credibility of the championship. After sharing honours the past two years, the race at the Grand Prix du Canada is now solely in the hands of the Canadian series, and we've been successful in adding a second race to the weekend, bringing our season championship total to ten rounds across five signature venues."

The season kicks off with the Victoria Day SpeedFest at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park on May 19. The 10-turn, 2.459-mile permanent road course in Bowmanville, Ontario has held races for more than 50 years.

The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars will then head to Canada's biggest racing weekend, the Grand Prix du Canada in Montreal. The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin series will race as part of the high profile FIA Formula One World Championship weekend on the street-based Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

Following Montreal, the series will return to the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park on July 21 to run in conjunction with the American Le Mans Series.

The next stop in the 2013 racing season will be for the festival atmosphere of the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières. The Grand Prix began in 1967, and in 2012 it featured competition from six different racing series. The legendary street circuit is enjoyed by race enthusiasts and families alike, resulting in one of the top-five highest attended motorsports events in Canada each year.

The 2013 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin series season will culminate at Calabogie Motorsports Park on Sept. 8. The Alan Wilson design in Calabogie, Ontario, boasts the longest track in Canada at 3.05 miles with 20 turns.



2013 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada schedule
May 19 - Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (Bowmanville, ON)
June 9 - Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve (Montréal, Qc)
July 21st - Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (Bowmanville, ON)
August 11 - Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières (Trois-Rivières, Qc)
September 8 - Calabogie Motorsports Park (Calabogie, ON)