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Aug
6th

Canadian Touring: Marc-Antoine Camirand 11-time winner in Trois-Rivières

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After taking his 10th career victory in the streets of Trois-Rivières during Friday night's Canadian Touring Car Championship (CTCC) round, Marc-Antoine Camirand (No. 96 BMW 330i) added an 11th to his record Saturday during the series' second round of the weekend.

"It was no easy race this time," Camirand admitted. "[Sasha] Anis stayed close to me pretty much the whole race, so the slightest mistake could have costed me the win. But I managed to keep him behind."

Anis, aboard his No. 14 Hyundai Genesis came home second, a result good enough to preserve his lead in the championship over Benjamin Distaulo (Honda Civic Si No. 6), third in the race.

Everybody was expecting Mathieu Audette (No. 12 Acura RSX) to join the fight for the three podium spots, but instead of going home with trophies, Audette left Trois-Rivières empty handed with two DNFs, caused by electrical failures, on his record.

"The problem is that since there is no practice time after the qualifying session, nor between the two races, we were never able to find out if our changes resolved the issue," revealed Audette.

"We were eventually never able to fix it."
Aug
6th

F1: HRT team boss says first taste was a ”total disaster”

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From GMM

HRT boss Luis Perez-Sala has admitted his first taste of the struggling Spanish team was not a happy one.

The former Minardi driver was appointed by HRT's new owners Thesan Capital last year.

His first taste of life at HRT under his predecessor Colin Kolles' rule was at the 2011 British grand prix.

"What I saw, I did not like," Perez-Sala told El Pais newspaper.

"It was a total disaster. There was no organisation, no credibility. No aerodynamic research. No home, no identity. Everything was outsourced. No technician was based at the same place. They said it was a Spanish team, but there was nothing Spanish," he added.

F1 HRT Luiz Perez-Sala
Luiz Perez-Sala, beside Colin Kolles, during the 2011 Belgian Grand Prix. (Photo: WRi2)

Since then - even though HRT remains at the rear of the grid - a lot has changed. Perez-Sala, who has overseen the team's relocation to plush headquarters in Madrid, said the restructuring followed an "autopsy" of HRT's first two seasons as Campos and Hispania.

"It was clear that Pedro (de la Rosa) had to be with us," he explained. "He was the key. He was Spanish, he is experienced, he is honest. He has been more than ten years in formula one, knows everyone and knows how to develop a car with the mechanics and the engineers. He contributes a lot as a driver, but having him with us helps us to grow, to have a plan without taking stabs in the dark."

HRT F1 Caja Magica
La Caja Magica, headquarter of HRT. (Photo: HRT F1 Team)

Pedro de la Rosa, who was enticed by Sala to join HRT despite being offered only half the pay of his McLaren reserve role, admits he too had a "bad" first impression of the team.

"They had been in formula one two years and yet it did not look like a serious project. They had a bad structure that was difficult to change. I wanted to sign before, but I had no trust. When I saw Luis was there, I thought about it. Then there were some good arguments: to race again with a team with a Spanish license, Spanish bosses, mechanics and engineers, a Spanish driver. I liked the idea of being here (in Spain) not in England where the other teams are, but to create something different and a structure that is staying in Spain. It sounded good," said de la Rosa.

HRT's chief executive Saul Ruiz de Marcos revealed that the team's budget in 2012 is EUR 50 million, which is seven times less than the biggest teams, and half that of immediate competitor Caterham.

"If we succeed, we can get sponsors and make money in three years," he said. "The secret is to spend every last euro to develop the car aerodynamically, which is where you gain the most time."

HRT F1 Narain Karthikeyan
Narain Karthikeyan in the HRT garage. (Photo: HRT F1 Team)

De Marcos said one strategy is to "get closer" to the lucrative Indian and Chinese markets, which have not yet been fully tapped by formula one.

"We already have a driver of Indian nationality, Narain Karthikeyan," he said, "and we are developing what will be the first Chinese driver in the history of formula one, Ma Qing Hua."



Aug
6th

IndyCar: Katherine Legge to return at Sonoma

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Chevrolet will provide a turbo engine for Britain' Katherine Legge at the Grand Prix of Sonoma IndyCar race at the end of August.

After competing in the first five races (the initial four with a Lotus engine before Dragon Racing switched to Chevrolet in mid-May), she has shared the car and its Chevrolet 2.2-liter, twin turbocharged V6 engine with Sebastien Bourdais.

Bourdais, a former Formula 1 driver has driven in the four road/street course races since the Indianapolis 500 on May 27. Legge has driven in the three oval races since competing in her first 500 Mile Race.

IndyCar Katherine Legge
Katherine Legge. (Photo: IndyCar)

Thanks to Chevrolet providing a second engine to the team for the GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma on August 24-26, Legge will compete in her first road course race since Barber in early April.

Legge will join 22 other drivers in testing at the recently reconfigured Sonoma circuit August 17.


Aug
6th

NASCAR: Deluge helps Jeff Gordon end 31-race winless drought

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Jeff Gordon got a little help from his teammate's botched restart and enormous downpour which ended the Pennsylvania 400, at Pocono on lap 98 of the 160-lap race.

Gordon had been in a slump, it had been 31 races since his last victory. This was his 86th career win.

On a restart, on lap 91, his teammate, Jimmie Johnson, got a bit wide in turn one knocking Matt Kenseth into the outside wall. As the field scattered like a break in a billiard game Gordon, who had been sixth, squirted into the lead “Man, I've never seen the seas part quite like that before (laughing) like they did going down into (Turn) one. I got a great restart and was able to dive to the inside in front of Kasey (Kahne) and I saw the No. 48 (Jimmie Johnson) get sideways and it just took them all out.”

NASCAR Jeff Gordon
Jeff Gordon leading at Pocono. (Photo: NASCAR)

Later Johnson said a flat right rear tire caused the wreck. He said “I shouldn't feel bad about that but not much you can do with a right-rear flat.”

Kenseth described the incident “ I got a little draft and actually pulled up to his (Johnson's ) door and so I decided to race him through there and we went off into one and I could hear his pipes. I wasn't sure he has lifted yet. He drove in really, really far and spun out underneath me and I got wrecked.”

It was like redemption for the four-time champion who appeared in jeopardy to fail to make the Chase, NASCAR's playoffs. “You can't ever give up. It doesn't matter where you're at. You've got to just try to go out there and win races. For all the things that have gone wrong for us this year, I still can't believe what just happened. But, I think this is the one that makes up for all the ones that have gotten away.”

Kasey Kahne, another HMS teammate, finished second coming back from a pit lane error. “Jeff got a little bit better restart, got in front of me getting into turn one when the field wrecked in front of us, and he won the race,” he said.

NASCAR Martin Truex Jr
Martin Truex Jr leading a pack of cars. (Photo: NASCAR)

Martin Truex Jr. finished third. They way he saw the restart “everybody was throwing rubber off their tires trying to get them cleaned up before we took the restart. So, all that stuff combined into those guys going off into (turn) one, all of them looked like they took off up the track. Fortunately, I was the third guy that didn't slide. The 24 (Jeff Gordon), 5 (Kasey Kahne), and me, we all went down in there and stuck.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. who retired early with a transmission failure continues to lead the points.

NASCAR Tony Stewart storm at Pocono
Tony Stewart's crew pushing back the car in the garage when the storm arrived. (Photo: NASCAR)

The bad weather affected the fans adversely, too. Officials of Pocono Raceway confirmed that one spectator died and nine others were injured in the storm which ended the race. Another was listed in critical condition at a local hospital.



Aug
6th

NASCAR Canadian Tire: Photo gallery of Andrew Ranger’s superb victory

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Quebec drive Andrew Ranger extended his domination of the Grand Prix of Trois-Rivieres with his fourth win in six races there Sunday in the JuliaWine.com 100.

Ranger won at Trois-Rivieres each year from 2008 to 2010, and finished second in 2007 and 2011.

The Roxton Pond, Quebec native took the lead from J.R. Fitzpatrick on Turn 3 of lap 10 of the 42-lap event around the 1.53-mile course and cruised to a win by 2.096 seconds over local driver L.P. Dumoulin.

NASCAR GP3R
Photos: Yanick Gougeon

Fitzpatrick finished third, followed by Robin Buck. Points leader D.J. Kennington had his five-race win streak ended with a fifth-place finish.

It was the Rangers' 16th career win in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series and his 13th on a road course.

J.F. Dumoulin was sixth, followed by Scott Steckly, Ron Beauchamp Jr., Jeff Lapcevich and Isabelle Tremblay.

Kennington leads Ranger by 37 points and Steckly by 43 after eight of 12 races.

The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series will return to the track in two weeks with the NAPA Autopro 100 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal.



Aug
6th

F1: Bernie Ecclestone admits Olympic stadium GP unlikely

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From GMM

Bernie Ecclestone has admitted it is unlikely a bid to stage a grand prix at London's Olympic stadium will succeed.

A company called Intelligent Transport Services recently launched the bid to take over the Olympic venue and use it for a formula one race once this week's Games have ended.

But on a visit to Olympic Park at the weekend, F1's chief executive said he actually favours rival plans to stage a London street race that would see the cars drive past some of the city's most famous landmarks.

When asked about the Olympic stadium plans, Ecclestone said: "I would rather have a race where we originally planned in central London.

"It is a project we are going to try and make happen," he is quoted by the Times newspaper.

F1 London
The F1 cars in the streets of London. (Image: Santander)




Aug
5th

Former Porsche execs could soon face charges, report says

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German prosecutors will soon decide whether to bring criminal charges of market manipulation against the former CEO Wendelin Wiedeking and former Chief Financial Officer Holger Haerter of German sports car maker Porsche, magazine Der Spiegel...
Aug
5th

West Coast states to limit copper in brake pads

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For decades, state and federal governments have passed laws regulating vehicle safety, but come 2021 laws in Washington state and California will take effect to make brake pads safer -- not for drivers or passengers but for salmon.
Aug
5th

NASCAR Canadian Tire: LP Dumoulin takes pole at GP Trois-Rivieres

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Trois-Rivieres native Louis-Philippe Dumoulin celebrated his homecoming with his first career pole position in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series for the JuliaWine.com 100 at Circuit de Trois-Rivieres.

Dumoulin, the 2011 series rookie of the year and now a teammate with two-time series' champion Scott Steckly, put down the fastest lap during group qualifying by just .011 seconds over J.R. Fitzpatrick.

Dumoulin had a lap of 1m7.821s around the street course. Fitzpatrick was just slightly slower at 1m7.832s but also earned a spot on the front row for today's race.

Andrew Ranger qualified third at 1m7.839s and Steckly was fourth. Points leader DJ Kennington, who enters the weekend with a five-race win streak, qualified fifth.

Ron Beauchamp Jr. was sixth, followed by rookies Martin Roy and Elie Arseneau. Robin Buck and Jean-Francois Dumoulin rounded out the top 10.



Results of the qualifying session
1 47 L.P. Dumoulin - 81.214
2 84 J.R. Fitzpatrick - 81.201
3 27 Andrew Ranger - 81.192
4 22 Scott Steckly - 80.716
5 17 D.J. Kennington - 80.438
6 60 Ron Beauchamp - 80.028
7 90 Martin Roy - 80.024*
8 03 Elie Arseneau - 79.991*
9 66 Robin Buck - 79.920
10 04 J.F. Dumoulin - 79.834
Etc.

*Rookie driver

Aug
5th

2012 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid Review

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The Escalade is, for good or bad, the first model most would mention when asked to name a Cadillac product. Eldorado, DeVille and Fleetwood are all nameplates that have faded over time, unlikely to be remembered as cars that made Cadillac a household name known the world over.

The Escalade took the world by storm when its current guise hit the red carpet in 2007. The storm was soon over when the economy collapsed barely two years later. The Escalade fell out of favour just as the new 2009 Escalade two-mode hybrid hit the shelves.

2012 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid

A real hybrid
According to moi, a Hybrid vehicle is one that can run on either form of energy available on tap, exclusively. The Escalade Hybrid features an electric propulsion system with a 300-volt hybrid battery pack, and because of its two-mode nature it can, and does, run as often as possible on electricity alone.

Unlike a large number of other hybrids that use CVT transmissions, the Escalade uses a two-mode continuous electric-ratio hybrid transmission with four fixed gears. As simply as I can explain it: this impressive transmission seamlessly navigates through six operating functions through the four fixed gears, and the two electric continuously variable transmission (ECVT) modes... Whatever, it works especially well.

The other small element is the 332 hp 6.0L V8 with active fuel management. Altogether, they not only make the 2012 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid move with assurance and gusto, but they manage to do so without chugging an inordinate amount of fuel. I averaged a paltry 12L/100 km over a week's drive.

That same week, we had a 2012 SLP Cadillac Escalade Supercharged Sport Edition and actually had a bit of fun pitting the two against each other. More on that at a later point. but (spoiler alert!) I did not prefer the 525 hp SLP monster.

2012 Cadillac Escalade hybrid engine
The engine produces 332 hp 6.0L V8 with active fuel management. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

Refined hybrid
A strange thing is happening: I'm really appreciating everything oversized currently offered by car makers. The likes of the Lincoln Navigator and Infiniti QX are so cosseting that many luxury cars could stand to spend some time in class with the rude and crude trucks.

The Escalade Hybrid is as comfortable, solid and luxurious as one would expect -- with a slight twist. It was a leader in all of these criteria three or four model-years ago. It's still good, but it's severely lagging behind design-wise. However, all the bells and whistles are present and accounted for.

The seats are huge and cozy, as is the rear bench. The third row is a no-longer-clever marketing ploy. What's worse, the 3rd row must be physically removed to access all of the trunk's volume. This is a fail in 2012.

Aesthetically, the Escalade is still handsome, but like the Navigator its slab-sided, un-sculpted body lacks imagination and inspiration. It ain't ugly, though...

2012 Cadillac Escalade hybrid dashboard
The Escalade Hybrid is as comfortable, solid and luxurious as one would expect. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

Fine driving hybrid
As with all luxury SUVs, the 2012 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid rides regally. The Hybrid's standard Magnetic Ride Control suspension seems as though it's always one step ahead. Neither rut nor onramp would upset the big truck's stability -- that is, unless the driver foolishly overdoes it speed-wise.

The brakes and brake-pedal feel are not affected by their regenerative functions; in fact, I found them as (or more) responsive than in the SLP. Same goes for the steering: I felt as though the power electric rack and pinion was better judged and more precise in the Hybrid than the other.

In fact, the Hybrid experience was great overall. Far more surefooted and agile than I expected, the big ‘Slade was (dare I say it?) fun to drive...

The Escalade deal
The 2012 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid is great, except for the fact that it's an Escalade. The spotlight time for gargantuan people-movers faded long ago, and as the GMT900 platform gets long in the tooth, the marketability of these vehicles becomes increasingly more difficult.

GM's hybrid system is efficient, very functional and still quite modern. If I were GM, I'd leave the powertrain well enough alone and concentrate on a new shell and cabin.

2012 Cadillac Escalade hybrid sticker
GM's hybrid system is efficient, very functional and still quite modern. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

At $95,000, the base Escalade Hybrid is decently priced, but then again it's the only one of its kind currently on the market. The tested, fully kitted-out version tips the MSRP scale at a whopping $110,000.

As a final comment, I wouldn't rebadge a Traverse and call it “Escalade.” I really don't think this will do well.
Aug
5th

NASCAR: Elliott Sadler bounces back into Victory Lane in Iowa

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Elliott Sadler bounced back from a questionable penalty call in Indianapolis to take the Nationwide Series win in Iowa.

The Richard Childress Racing driver was penalized by NASCAR, last week, for jumping a restart, a move questioned by many. He had been bumped ahead of the leader, Brad Keselowski -- who admitted that he had spun his wheels which caused him to slow. That's when NASCAR called the penalty.

This week nothing was going to deprive him of a well-deserved win or his lead in the series championship.

After taking the checkered flag by a comfortable margin over Justin Allgaier he radioed his crew “They're (NASCAR officials) not going take a championship away from us.

“It's been a rough week,” the 37-year old driver said in Victory Lane acknowledging how his team reacted to the disputed call. “We felt like we should have won that race last week."

“I'm still upset about it,” Sadler said Friday. “I'm still pretty emotional about it. That's a once-in-a-lifetime win that we felt got taken away from us.”

One week later it was a different story.

Sadler started from the pole, in a Chevrolet, with a track-record qualifying speed of 135.141 mph and was near or at the front of the pack the entire race. He passed Justin Allgaier on the 192nd lap and went on to his fourth victory of the season.

Third place went to Sam Hornish Jr. followed by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. who saw his three-race winning streak end at the 7/8ths of a mile oval.

Sadler's teammate, Austin Dillon, had to make a green flag pit stop early in the race for a vibration. That caused the rookie to fall one lap down and eventually finish on the lead lap but in 15th place.

Sadler's series points lead extended to 18 points over Dillon. Stenhouse, who finished fifth, remains third in the standings 21 points behind.

Hornish also won the series sponsor's $100,000 Dash4Cash bonus.
Aug
5th

Formula Tour 1600: Michel Bonnet wins Race 2 at GP Trois-Rivieres

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Veteran Michel Bonnet won Race 2 of the Formula Tour 1600 series held Sunday in the streets of Trois-Rivieres, Quebec.

Bonnet captured pole position for Sunday's race and made a good start to lead the field into the tricky Corner 1. His son Olivier followed him closely with Xavier Coupal in third place. The first lap of the race was surprisingly quiet with no crashes nor contacts.

On lap 4, Olivier Bonnet moved in front of his father by out-braking him at the end of the Du Carmel straightaway. The top three cars were now running nose-to-tail.

On lap 5, Nathan Blok started to put immense pressure on Coupal. It was a splendid battle with the two drivers passing and re-passing each other several times each lap !

Meanwhile, the two Bonnet ran away out in front. Olivier set the fastest time of the race when Blok found a way past Coupal to take third place.

Serge Boudreau and Didier Schraenen fought hard over fifth place.

Blok and Coupal continued to entertain the spectators. It was already 30 degrees C when the competitors reached the half-race point at just 9:15 am !

Schraenen managed to pass Boudreau, but the Bonnet fight was still raging on out in front.

On lap 21, Michel passed Olivier at the end of the Du Carmel straight but one lap later, Michel out-braked his son at the Ryan hairpin corner.

On the penultimate lap, Coupal went straight into the tire barrier after the Duplessis arch and retired. Simultaneously, a car spun on the main straight, forcing race control to send the safety car out on the track.

So the race ended under yellows with Michel Bonnet taking victory in front of Olivier Bonnet and Nathan Blok.

Serge Boudreau crossed the line in fourth place ahead of Didier Schranen, Luc Théroux, Pascal Bellemare and Jean-Philippe Jodoin.
Aug
5th

Rally: Sébastien Loeb wins in Finland

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Sebastien Loeb's incredible run success in the FIA World Rally Championship continued today when he won Rally Finland for a third time alongside co-driver Daniel Elena.

Loeb, whose victory was his 73rd in the world championship - which puts him equal with Finnish rallying legend Juha Kankkunen on the list of all-time Rally Finland winners -, overcame a stern challenge from Citroen teammate and local hero Mikko Hirvonen to triumph by 6.1s as the thrilling high-speed gravel event ended with a second pass of the famous Ouninpohja stage this evening.

For Hirvonen, the two seconds he dropped with a sensor glitch on Friday's final test, coupled with the delay he encountered nudging a tree on stage 13, means his wait for his first WRC win with Citroen continues.

Jari-Matti Latvala was the leading Ford finisher in third with Petter Solberg fourth in an identical Fiesta RS WRC. It was a frustrating event for the Blue Oval pair, who had been tipped to challenge for victory but ultimately conceded that they didn't have the speed to beat their Citroen rivals on this occasion.

Adapta Fiesta pilot Mads Ostberg fought back from a mechanical failure on the second Leustu stage to reclaim fifth from Ott Tanak on the first run through Ouninpohja. Tanak, from Estonia, drove without error in his M-Sport Fiesta to end a miserable recent run of form in sixth position.



Rally Finland - Final classification
1. Loeb-Elena (Citroen DS3 Wrc) in 2.28'11”4

2. Hirvonen-Lehtinen (Citroen DS3 Wrc) + 6”1
3. Latvala-Anttila (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 35”0
4. P. Solberg-Patterson (Ford Fiesta Wrc) + 56”1

5. Ostberg-Andersson (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 2'32”1

6. Tanak-Sikk (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 2'47”6

7. Rantanen-Lukka (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 4'51"7
8. Ketomaa-Stenberg (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 6'01"9
9. Prokop-Hruza (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 6'04”3

10. Ogier-Ingrassia (Skoda Fabia S2000) + 8'46”0
Etc.

Championship
1. Loeb 171 points, 2. Hirvonen 128, 3. P. Solberg 104, 4. Ostberg 90, 5. Latvala 69, etc.
Aug
5th

NASCAR: Juan Pablo Montoya wins Pocono pole

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Juan Pablo Montoya was a little surprised, but, very pleased at winning the pole for the Pennsylvania 400 on Saturday.

After a disastrous 2011 season team owner, Chip Ganassi, replaced the upper management and Montoya's crew chief in an attempt to turn the team around. It hasn't exactly showed that turnaround until this weekend.

“To be honest with you, I'm not sure if I'm more shocked that we're on the pole right now,” the Colombian driver explained, “how the last few races have been for us and how hard our season has been, or that I'm on the pole in Pocono. This is a place where I struggle in qualifying. It's big.

“This is a big boost for everybody on the Target team. We've been working so hard and we really need a little bit of light.”

Part of that pole-winning lap of 51.124 seconds, 176.043 mph, was due to gaming the qualifying system. By concentrating on his race setup, while not looking for outright speed, Montoya earned an early qualifying draw in his Chevrolet. NASCAR bases qualifying by inverting the first practice speeds with the fastest driver attempting to qualify last.

That strategy paid off with Montoya's 8th career pole and first at the 2.5 mile track called the Tricky Triangle due to its tri-cornered shape.

Denny Hamlin, who usually performs well in Pocono was second fastest in a Toyota at 175.795 mph. Paul Menard claimed third spot in a backup car, at 175.627 mph, after wrecking in Friday's opening practice.

Amplifying what this weekend means to Montoya and his team he said “this is a big day for us. We played the strategy right.

“Everyone has been working so hard understanding what the car needs. It shows we're going in the right direction. We've seen the light at the end of the tunnel.”

Still Montoya admits the real story will be told after Sunday's race.

“I know tomorrow is going to be a reality check that we've still got to work on it a lot,” he said. “I told people...'let's enjoy today.' I think we've done our homework yesterday in race trim and we know where we need to go with the car, so we'll see.”
Aug
5th

Mazda6: latest production has begun in Japan

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The newly redesigned 2014 Mazda6 is now in production at Mazda's Hofu Plant No. 2 in Japan's Yamaguchi prefecture. About 500 people attended the official kick-off ceremony, in the presence of Mazda's CEO, Takashi Yamamouchi.

The first vehicle off the assembly line was the Mazda6 wagon, built to European specifications and powered by the SKYACTIV-G 2.0 gasoline engine. The Hofu Plant should produce about 120,000 units annually. Furthermore, this Mazda6 will be the first model to benefit from the automaker's new i-ELOOP regenerative braking technology.

The new Mazda6 will be on European and Japanese roads before the end of 2012, and will be available in North America, beginning 2013. The Mazda6 sedan will premiere at the Moscow International Automobile Salon 2012, opening on August 29.

2014 Mazda6 left side view
Photo: Mazda

Aug
5th

IndyCar: Scott Dixon wins fourth in Mid-Ohio (+results)

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Scott Dixon (Chip Ganassi Racing) edged in front of pole sitter Will Power (Team Penske) during the final pit stop rounds to take his fourth IndyCar win in six years racing on the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

As consolation prize, Power did take home three bonus points for earning the pole the day before, and leading the most laps during the race. His point tally now puts in on top of the leader board as far as the championship is concerned.

"It's a very good points day," said Power, who has 379 points. "We're happy to get the Verizon car on the podium. We'll keep chasing after it. We'll get a win here soon and keep going after that championship."

Each and every one of the 85 laps that went by were caution-free.

Simon Pagenaud (Schmidt Hamilton) earned himself a podium, making Mid-Ohio his fifth top 5 finish of the season. Another Frenchman, Sébastien Bourdais (Dragon Racing) came home fourth, ahead of Canadian James Hinchcliffe (Andretti Autosport), who rallied from 16th on the grid up to fifth.

"That was probably the toughest race of the year running flat out every lap at this track," said Hinchcliffe, driving the No. 27 Team GoDaddy.com car for Andretti Autosport. "I think I had more fun than anyone but Dixon. It was like a qualifying lap every lap. We ran some good lap times and I'm just happy to bounce back after what happened in qualifying (qualified 16th)."

Alex Tagliani (Herta) completed the top 10, where as Giorgio Pantano, standing in for the injured Charlie Kimball, made it up from 24th on the grid up to 14th.



Race results - IndyCar (Mid-Ohio)*
1 - Scott Dixon (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Ganassi - 85 laps
2 - Will Power (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Penske - 3"4619
3 - Simon Pagenaud (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Schmidt - 4"5402
4 - Sebastien Bourdais (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Dragon - 5"5822

5 - James Hinchcliffe (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Andretti - 7"5663
6 - Tony Kanaan (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - KV - 12"3280
7 - Ryan Briscoe (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Penske - 27"9601

8 - Marco Andretti (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Andretti - 28"1691
9 - JR Hildebrand (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Panther - 29"2325
10 - Alex Tagliani (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Herta - 31"1722

11 - Graham Rahal (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Ganassi - 31"4387
12 - Josef Newgarden (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Fisher - 32"0754
13 - Takuma Sato (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Rahal - 32"4073
14 - Giorgio Pantano (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Ganassi - 33"9166

15 - Rubens Barrichello (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - KV - 35"2863
16 - Helio Castroneves (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Penske - 35"9205
17 - Dario Franchitti (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Ganassi - 36"9834
18 - Justin Wilson (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Coyne - 42"0974
19 - James Jakes (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Coyne - 46"4304

20 - EJ Viso (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - KV - 46"8068
21 - Mike Conway (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Foyt - 46"9535

22 - Ed Carpenter (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Carpenter - 1 lap

23 - Simona de Silvestro (Dallara DW12-Lotus) - HVM - 2 laps



Retirements
79° lap - Ryan Hunter-Reay 

78° lap - Oriol Servia

*Unofficial results

Aug
5th

Indy Lights: Easy victory for Tristan Vautier in Trois-Rivieres

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Pole sitter Tristan Vautier, the reigning Star Mazda series' champion, clinched pole position and motored to an easy victory in the Firestone Indy Lights series' race held at the Grand Prix of Trois-Rivières.

Seconds after the green, Frenchman Vautier led the field into Corner 1 but was almost rear ended by his rivals when he braked carefully for the wet Corner 2.

Irishman Peter Dempsey, who started the race in fifth place, powered by Vautier on the Du Carmel straight to take first place.

However, Dempsey suddenly slowed down laps later, victim of a broken gearbox.

Vautier inherited first place and stretched his advantage to a four-second lead over Gustavo Yacaman and Carlos Munoz.

On lap 38, David Ostella went straight into the escape road at the end of the Du Carmel straight.

Out in front, Vautier managed to keep the gap between himself and his pursuer (Yacaman) between 2.5 and 3.0 seconds until the end of the hour-long race. He also set the fastest lap of the race at 58.297 seconds.

After 60 laps, Vautier took the checkered in first place, winning the race by 6.6 seconds ober Yacaman.

Munoz arrived home in third place ahead of Esteban Guerrieri, Oliver Webb, David Ostella and Jorge Goncalvez. The other four drivers all retired from the race.
Aug
5th

ALMS: Five consecutive wins for Lucas Luhr and Klaus Graf (+results)

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Lucas Luhr and Klaus Graf were no match once again for their P1 competition at the American Le Mans Series' Mid-Ohio stop.

The pair drove Muscle Milk Pickett Racing's HPD ARX-03a to a fifth consecutive wins this season, slowed down only by a computer glitch during the driver change. For a few seconds, the car wouldn't start - which allowed Dyson Racing to take the lead. But only for a brief period as it would turn out.

The battle in the GT category was much more heated, ending in the last lap with a season's third victory for Tommy Milner and Oliver Gavin in the No. 4 Corvette C6 ZR1. They were followed to the flag by Flying Lizards Motorsports' Jörg Bergmeister and Patrick Long.

Pole-sitters Jörg Müller and Bill Auberlen (BMW Team RLL) were left sitting third on the podium.

Christophe Bouchut and Scott Tucker of Level 5 Motorsports made better use of their pole in the P2 class, coming home with a win over last round's winner Conquest Racing. They did lose the lead in the first stint, but battled back with success.

In LMPC, it was Marino Franchitti who earned the win with his teammate Rudy Junco.

Tim Pappas and Jeroen Bleekemolen, who were racing together for the first time this season in GTC, won on their comeback run.



Race results - ALMS (Mid-Ohio)
1 - Luhr/Graf (HPD ARX-03a) - Pickett - 123 laps 2.46'04"189

2 - Dyson/Smith (Lola B12/60-Mazda) - Dyson - 1 lap
3 - Tucker/Bouchut (HPD ARX-03b) - Level 5 - 2 laps

4 - Plowman/Hansson (Morgan-Judd) - Conquest - 2 laps

5 - Tucker/Gonzalez (HPD ARX-03b) - Level 5 - 3 laps

6 - Franchitti/Junco (Oreca FLM09) - PR1 - 5 laps

7 - Popow/Dalziel (Oreca FLM09) - CORE - 5 laps
8 - Marcelli/Downs (Oreca FLM09) - Merchant - 7 laps

9 - Dempsey/Cameron/Foster (Lola B12/87-Mazda) - Dyson - 7 laps
10 - Junqueira/Drissi (Oreca FLM09) - RSR - 8 laps
11 - Gavin/Milner (Corvette ZR1) - Corvette - 8 laps

12 - Bergmeister/Long (Porsche 997) - Flying Lizard - 8 laps
13 - Marsal/Lux (Lola B11/66-Mazda) - Dyson - 9 laps

14 - Mueller/Auberlen (BMW M3) - Rahal - 9 laps

15 - Richard/Ende (Oreca FLM09) - Dempsey - 9 laps

16 - Brown/Cosmo (Ferrari 458) - Extreme Speed - 9 laps
17 - Hand/Mueller (BMW M3) - Rahal - 9 laps
18 - Sharp/Van Overbeek (Ferrari 458) - Extreme Speed - 10 laps

19 - Neiman/Holzer (Porsche 997) - Flying Lizard - 10 laps

20 - Brown/Cosmo (Ferrari 458) - Extreme Speed - 11 laps
21 - Bennett/Braun (Oreca FLM09) - CORE - 11 laps

22 - Miller/Maassen (Porsche 997 Cup) - Miller - 11 laps
23 - Wittmer/Farnbacher (SRT Viper) - SRT - 12 laps
24 - Sweedler/Bell (Lotus Evora) - Alex Job - 14 laps
25 - Goossens/Kendall (SRT Viper) - SRT - 14 laps
26 - Pappas/Bleekemolen (Lola B11/80-Honda) - Black Swan - 15 laps
27 - Pumpelly/Carter (Porsche 997 Cup) - TRG - 16 laps

28 - Faieta/Avenatti (Porsche 997 Cup) - Competition - 16 laps

29 - MacNeil/Keen (Porsche 997 Cup) - Alex Job - 16 laps

30 - LeSaffre/Faulkner (Porsche 997 Cup) - Green Hornet - 17 laps

31 - Magnussen/Garcia (Corvette ZR1) - Corvette - 18 laps

32 - Kovacic/Burgess (Oreca FLM09) - Merchant - 35 laps
Aug
4th

Manchester United says GM agreement will generate $559 million

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Manchester United said its General Motors sponsorship agreement will generate $559 million through 2021. Under the sponsorship, the Chevrolet logo will be placed on the soccer team's jerseys beginning in 2014.
Aug
4th

Manchester United says GM agreement will generate $559 million

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Manchester United said its General Motors sponsorship agreement will generate $559 million through 2021. Under the sponsorship, the Chevrolet logo will be placed on the soccer team's jerseys beginning in 2014.
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