From GMM
Vitaly Petrov's manager Oksana Kosachenko has admitted the Russian driver's Formula 1 career is hanging in the balance.
Kosachenko, a former journalist who has managed the 27-year-old's career at Renault and Caterham since 2010, told Russian news agency Ria Novosti that the government has pulled its financial backing.
The R-Sport website said Petrov has lost the government-linked sponsors Russian Helicopters and Lada.
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| Vitaly Petrov with Oksana Kosachenko. (Photo: WRI2) |
"We have now lost government support," Kosachenko is quoted as saying.
"There's never been interest from sponsors. I've always said that it's impossible to find sponsors in Russia for a project like formula one.
"When there was support at the top level of government, this project worked commendably.
"I don't rule out a scenario in which we have to end this Russian driver's competition in formula one," she added.
From WTCC
The Honda Racing Team JAS completed their second track test with the Civic WTCC car, at the Slovakia Ring on Monday and Tuesday.
Italian Gabriele Tarquini took the wheel for most of the time, then Tiago Monteiro replaced him on Tuesday afternoon.
“It was a very good test. We were able to go through the full programme we had planned without meeting with the lesser technical issue,” said Team Principal Alessandro Mariani.
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| Gabriele Tarquini in the new Honda Civic. (Photo: WTCC) |
“The track is excellent for testing as it offers both fast and slow corners. So we had the opportunity to work on the engine and the chassis set-up, and we also completed some long runs. We are very satisfied with the outcome. The performance is there, especially in terms of race pace. During the previous test at Vallelunga, we sensed the potential of the car; at the Slovakia Ring we have had the confirmation that this potential is really promising'” he added.
“The Civic is a very good racing car to work on. We have tried some different set up, testing its reaction. The results were encouraging,” said Tarquini, a former Formula 1 driver.
“Our relationship with the Civic has just begun and I think we have only unveiled 25/30 percent of its potential. Performance is already there, so we are optimist. However we still have a long work to do and we must wait until we measure ourselves with the competitors,” the Italian added.
The A.C.O., the Automobile Club de l'Ouest, organiser of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, has change the date of the next edition of the classic endurance race.
The 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours will take place on 22-23 June. It will mark the 90th anniversary of the event.
The test day will now be held on Sunday 9th June, and the scrutineering (technical and administrative checks) will be performed on Sunday 16th and Monday 17th June.
The dates of the 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours, initially scheduled for 15-16 June, have been put back by a week at the request of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) in order to harmonize the world calendar of motor racing events.
The full calendar of the 2013 FIA World Endurance Championship, of which the Le Mans 24 Hours race is the blue riband event, will be announced in September 2012.
It is worth recalling that this event was conceived at the 1922 Motor Show in the Grand Palais in Paris.
The idea emerged from a meeting between Charles Faroux, a journalist from La Vie Automobile, Georges Durand, the ACO general secretary, some eminent members of the club, and Emille Coquille, the French representative of the Rudge-Whitworth detachable wheels company.
Porsche will once again host Camp4 Canada at Mécaglisse, the renowned proving grounds on the north shore of Montreal. Next February, 20 participants from all over the world will live a unique winter driving experience and even be among the first to try out the new
2013 Porsche 911 Carrera 4.
Drivers will put their skills to the test on snow and ice-covered road courses as well as a giant winter skid pad. You see, Porsche wants to dispel myths that high-performance sports cars should stay in the garage for the cold season.
"Camp4 Canada is [...] designed to convince potential customers that all Porsche vehicles, including the sports cars that form the foundation of the Camp4 Canada program, are all-weather machines and can be driven through the winter with a bit of preparation and the proper driving techniques," said Laurance Yap, Director of Marketing at Porsche Canada.
You want in? Prices begin at $4,995 for Camp4 and $5,995 for Camp4S, and include accommodations, food and transfers between the hotel and the driving centre. For more information, go to
www.porsche.ca/camp4.
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| Photo: Porsche |
Hyundai Motor has reached a tentative wage deal with its South Korean labor union leaders, which if approved by members, would allow the carmaker to avert further production losses that have threatened to slow its sales growth.
U.S. sales of certified used vehicles are likely to rise about 5 percent this year, the head of General Motors' certified used-vehicle program predicted Wednesday. But he said GM's sales will be constrained by a shortage of vehicles.
Chris Borroni-Bird has left GM, where he developed futuristic vehicles, to join Qualcomm, the largest seller of mobile-phone semiconductors, according to a person familiar with the decision.
Also in this episode: Ferrari hopes for a record year of sales, and Bentley officially unveils the Continental GT Speed at the Moscow motor show.
Mecumand#8217;s second annual Dallas Auction starts next week on Sept. 5 and runs through the weekend.
The CAW said it may break with tradition and continue contract talks with all three Detroit automakers simultaneously, instead of targeting one of them to tackle first to set a bargaining pattern for the others.
Nissan Russia has revealed the Almera at the Moscow motor show. This small sedan will be made on a specially installed line within the giant AvtoVAZ works in Togliatti.
Sharp-eyed Autoweek reader Robert Burkhardt has sent us a photo of what appears to be a camouflaged Jaguar F-Type caught driving in the mountains near Denver.
EDITOR WES RAYNAL: I think I'd go with the regular Carrera. This 2012 Porsche Carrera S seems a bit too stiff to me. Is that blasphemy? Maybe.
Hyundai Motor may miss its overseas sales target next month because of strikes at its South Korean plants, said a company executive with direct knowledge of the sales.
As automakers plan to bring out more hybrid-electric models, we hear from LMC Automotive on their forecasts for the evolution of the global hybrid market.
Fiat is to shut its troubled Pomigliano D'Arco plant yet again for another two weeks as plummeting demand continues to exact on its toll on European automakers.
News
29 Aug, 2012
The updated Lexus LS saloon has been unveiled at the Moscow Motor Show
The push for fuel economy leadership will heavily influence the look and performance of Nissan's new products for the next three years.
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