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The promoters of rally events refuse the conditions of the contracts imposed by the WRC Commission to integrate next year's calendar.

The rallies wanting to be part of the 2013 WRC calendar must sign and return the porposed contract to the FIA before Friday.

If the conditions that are imposed by the WRC Commision to be part of next season have not been revealed, it appears that an additional 100 000 euros (around 130 000 canadian dollars) must be paid to cover various costs such as timing and the promotion of the event.

The president of the French motorsport federation, Nicolas Deschaux, backed by several other promoters, is against such a contract and he has sent a letter expressing his concerns to Jarmo Mahonen, the president of the WRC commission.

Photo: WRC

"We remind you that the internal regulations of the WRC Commission states that its mission is to define the agenda of the WRC and propose it to the World Council," wrote Deschaux. "It is not reported a validation by the Commission with a condition to signing a contract with the FIA ."

"We also remind you that no constitutional power allows you, as president of the Commission, subject to defining the agenda of a rule determined by your own initiative and without a legal basis."

"Finally, the procedure you followed for the second time, by sending a contract to be signed and returned in a short time, is completely unacceptable... This is contrary to the principle of good faith that should dictate all negotiations between the FIA and organizers, some of whom are members of the FIA."

"For this reason, even beyond the important legal and regulatory issues raised in the contract that you offer, the process that you adopted must be questioned and denounced. If you insist in this way, we will consider appealing to the World Motor Sport Council to arbitrate."

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Québec is not Canada's only province to consider parents responsible for their kids' behaviour. The rest of the country operates much the same way; all the provinces state that parents can be held responsible for their kids' actions, as well as for the consequences.

The Éducaloi website warns that "if a minor commits a fault or acts in a way that causes injury to another person, an animal or to the property of another, the law assumes that the parents are at fault. The law presumes that the damage would never have happened if the child had been well supervised or educated properly."


Much in the same way, article 1459 of the Québec Civil code states that "a person having parental authority is liable to reparation for injury caused to another by the act or fault of the minor under his authority, unless he proves that he himself did not commit any fault with regard to the custody, supervision or education of the minor."

In other words, if your kid harms, injures or - worst - kills someone in an accident caused by alcohol, speed or aggressive behaviour, you could be held responsible. The victim could sue both of you. It would then be up to yourself to prove you were not at fault and that your child was educated the right way.

Also, don't forget that if you lost custody of your child in a divorce, you are still liable for him or her.

But why let it drift to such extremes when you can avoid dangers altogether?

For one, you could offer to taxi everyone, picking up and dropping off your kid and his friends to the prom. Or, just like back in the days, you could rent a limousine service. If that alternative sounds too expensive, maybe coupons such as CoolTaxi are the way to go for you.

Mother Against Drunk Driving (MADD) reminds people of the possibility of being held responsible for giving alcohol to a minor, or serving alcohol to an event attended by minors.

A report tells the story of a defendant, who gave his younger friend a bottle of rum, and was later held responsible, together with several other defendants, for the sum of 8.5 million dollars - after said friend crashed his car at a red light. The minor suffered heavy burns in the accident he caused.

So think again if you're about to let your teenager party at home to save him the trouble of running around; you could put yourself at risk if it ever comes up that you served alcohol to minors.

During the FIA press conference held earlier Thursday in Montreal for the Grand Prix of Canada, Red Bull driver Mark Webber - the winner of the Monaco GP - hit out at critics who suggested that the RB8 is not legal.

Some figures in the paddock suggested Red Bull Racing's two victories this season were scored with an illegal car following the FIA's recent ruling that the team's vented floor can no longer be used.

The floor of the RB8 features holes that could have a direct aerodynamic influence. Interestingly, no rivals protested Sebastian Vettel's Bahrain win in April or Webber's victory in Monaco a fortnight ago.

Hole ahead rear wheel of the RB8. (Photo: WRi2)

However, the FIA carefully examined the floor again and last week ruled that it was not legal, forcing the Red Bull team to change its design.

“In relation to winning races with an illegal car, I'm happy to be called lots of things and I'm happy to have criticism about my driving and lots of stuff, but I will not take criticism in that respect,” said Australian Mark Webber.

“It completely p***** me off to be honest, because the car has passed every single technical regulation after the race, he added

“All of the teams that were against it did not make any protest after Monaco, the car passed the test after Bahrain, the car passed the test after Monaco and now there has been a clarification on the rule, and the rule now is different,” Webber added.

“We had a car that was legal for the first part of the season and now the rule has been changed and we will start again, so looking forward to it.”

“You won't believe us but we had some changes for Valencia anyway which included no hole, irrespective of the rule change, so that's what we were doing,” the Australian concluded.

Mark Webber in the streets of Monaco. (Photo: Red Bull Racing)

General Motors is the second manufacturer to announce a world debut ahead of August's Moscow motor show.

As manufacturers name yet more models and concepts for next month's Moscow motor show, just-auto is keeping track of these announced world premieres.

As manufacturers name yet more models and concepts for next month's Moscow motor show, just-auto is keeping track of these announced world premieres.

As manufacturers name yet more models and concepts ahead of the Moscow motor show's 29 August press preview day, just-auto is keeping track of these announced world premieres.

As manufacturers name yet more models and concepts ahead of the Moscow motor show's 29 August press preview day, just-auto is keeping track of these announced world premieres.

As manufacturers name yet more models and concepts ahead of the Moscow motor show's 29 August press preview day, just-auto is keeping track of these announced world premieres.

As manufacturers name yet more models and concepts ahead of the Moscow motor show's 29 August press preview day, just-auto is keeping track of these announced world premieres.

As manufacturers name yet more models and concepts ahead of the Moscow motor show's 29 August press preview day, just-auto is keeping track of these announced world premieres.

As manufacturers name yet more models and concepts ahead of the Moscow motor show's 29 August press preview day, just-auto is keeping track of these announced world premieres.

As manufacturers reveal new models and concepts at today's (29 August) Moscow motor show press preview day, just-auto's summary of all world premieres is updated.

The 29 August press preview day of the Moscow motor show saw many concepts and new models making their global debuts.

The 29 August press preview day of the Moscow motor show saw many concepts and new models making their global debuts.

Lamborghini's factory in Sant'Agata Bolognese, Italy, survived the recent earthquakes in the region undamaged.

China's biggest auto-dealer association said carmakers need to scale back their sales targets or sweeten incentives because the worsening glut of vehicles across the nation's dealerships is unsustainable.

The European Commission is set to propose tighter CO2 emissions standards for new EU cars, according to a draft proposal that is likely to divide the auto industry.

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Tesla Motors can generate positive cash flow with an annual order base of just 8,000 units, and the electric-vehicle maker is 'highly confident' of reaching sales of 20,000 vehicles in 2013, CEO Elon Musk told shareholders today.