Auto News 5

German automakers have long seen China as a key market. Now their late-arriving French rivals, hit by slow sales in Europe, hope to catch up fast with help from the popularity of France's fashion brands.

Automotive News Europe salutes the winners of the 2013 Rising Stars awards. Every day until June 12 one of the 18 winners will be featured. Today's Rising Star is Daniel Mueller, head of information technology at Kia Europe.

Fiat so far has failed to establish its tiny 500 as a chic city car in China despite a direct link to Italy's Gucci brand.

From GMM

Lotus owner Gerard Lopez has backed Romain Grosjean, amid speculation the Enstone based team could replace the beleaguered French driver.

Having seemingly overcome his 'first lap nutcase' troubles of 2012, 27-year-old Grosjean is now back in the wars with a ten-place grid penalty for Montreal for his Monaco crash with Daniel Ricciardo.

Caption: FOM

In the wake of the Monaco controversy, team boss Eric Boullier answered "not yet" when asked if Lotus might consider replacing Grosjean with GP2 champion Davide Valsecchi.

He and team owner Lopez, however, have also defended Grosjean.

"The first (Monaco) accident in practice was our fault," Lopez told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

"The tire pressures were wrong and we did not tell him. The second crash was comparable to Massa's -- we believe both were distracted by a car coming out of the pits. From that, he was under pressure for the rest of the weekend. The speed was there," said Lopez, adding that hurried repairs meant Grosjean's car was "not really perfect" for the race.

And Lopez said the crash with Ricciardo was caused by frustration.

"Romain is not a guy who can drive behind for so long, especially when he knows he could be so much further forward," he said.

He said Lotus continues to believe in Grosjean, but smiled as he likened him to a talented football player "who is constantly getting stupid injuries".

"He's super fast in anything with four wheels -- he would be quick with a shopping cart. He is a natural talent and there are not too many others like him; Hulkenberg, Bianchi but I can't think of many others," said Lopez.

Meanwhile, Romain Grosjean said he believes his ten-place penalty for the Ricciardo crash is "quite harsh".

As for his mixed 2013 season so far, he said: "On paper it's not as good as we would have wanted it to be, but I'm happy with all my performances so far except for Monaco."

Pros and Cons*
Pros
Smooth ride, top-quality fit and finish and great versatility ...just a few of the highlights that make this convertible stand out.

Cons
Among the sore points we need to mention: the trunk, which is awkward to use and has limited storage space, handling, which is anything but sporty and the fact that there are only two available rear seats.


Price
The Chrysler 200 Convertible has a MSRP of $30,395 and you have to add $695 for a 6-speed automatic instead of the standard 4-speed transmission. This model is delivered with a standard 4-cylinder engine.

The Touring version, at $37,195 is delivered with standard V6.

Limited and S versions start at $39,195 and $40,195 respectively.

Fuel Economy
The 4-cylinder/4-speed combination consumes an estimated 10.3 L/100 km city and 6.9 L/100 km highway.

The 6-speed transmission option lowers this rating to 11.8 L/100 km city and 7.3 L/100 km highway

V6 fuel consumption is rated at 11 L/100 km city and 6.8 L/100 km highway.

Exterior Styling
This elegant convertible has fluid and dynamic lines. The LED tail lights add to the overall refined styling.

Drivetrain
The base 2.4 litre 4-cylinder engine produces 173 hp and 166 lb-ft torque. It is available with either standard 4-speed or optional 6-speed automatic transmissions.

The available 3.6-litre V6 delivers 283 hp and 260 lb-ft torque and is matched to the 6-speed automatic transmission

Cargo Capacity
The trunk volume of the 2013 Chrysler 200 Convertible is 370 litres, or 190 litres with lowered roof.

Safety
A number of active safety features and a total of six airbags protect the occupants of the 2013 Chrysler 200 Convertible.

Comparable Models
BMW 1 Series Cabriolet, Ford Mustang Convertible, Chevrolet Camaro Convertible, Mazda MX-5, MINI Cooper Cabriolet, Volkswagen Eos

Photo: Chrysler

*References
René Charles, L'annuel de l'automobile 2013, Montréal Transcontinental, 2012, p.200
Fillion Nadine, Le guide de l'auto 2013, Montréal, Les éditions de l'Homme, 2012, p.234
www.chrysler.ca

From WRC.com

Robert Kubica captured his first win in the World Rally Championship by finishing first in the WRC 2 class at the Acropolis Rally - the roughest round of the season.

The former Formula 1ace brought his Citroen DS3 RRC cleanly through Sunday's final four stages to win by 1m29.8 from Yuriy Protasov in a Ford Fiesta RRC. 

Kubica dominated the WRC 2 competition in Greece. He took the lead on Friday's opening stage and went fastest on the first nine tests to pull more than two minutes clear of the chasing pack. 

He later switched to a more cautious approach, avoiding trouble on the rocky gravel stages to secure a maximum 25 championship points. 

Photo: Citroën Racing

“Finally, after a disappointing period with my mistakes and car failure, today is a great day,” said the Pole.

“I think the best thing is that I learned a lot here. These are completely opposite conditions to what I've been used to for the last 20 years.  

“Coming here and driving in a good way, managing to keep the car on the road without damage is already an achievement. Winning is even more. 

“But there is a long way to go. I know I have to learn a lot and for sure the next rallies will improve me even more. There is still long way to go before I get to the level I want to reach.”

Pros and Cons*
Cons
User-friendly controls, comfort and a price that can't be beat - all stand-out features of the 2013 Dodge Avenger.

Cons
The Avenger can be faulted for having an overly-complicated navigation system (offered as an option), a reduced cargo capacity, imprecise steering and a poor resale value.


Price
The Dodge Avenger SE Value Package has a base price of $19,995, with an extra $695 for a 6-speed automatic transmission (the 4-speed transmission comes standard).

The SXT is sold for $24,295. It's an additional $2,000 for the V6 engine.

The SXT Plus is available from $28,395 and includes a 6-cylinder powertrain and a 6-speed transmission.

The R/T, also equipped with a V6 Pentastar engine, is available for $29,295.

Fuel Economy
The 4-cylinder is rated at around 10.6 L/100 km in the city and 6.5 L/100 km on the highway with the 4-speed automatic transmission.

With the 6-speed, automatic transmission, the 4-cylinder engine's ratings are around 10 L/100 km in the city and 6.9 L/100 km on the highway.

When equipped with a V6 engine, the 2013 Dodge Avenger consumes 11 L/100 km in the city and 6.8 L/100 km on the highway.

Exterior Styling
With a cross-style grille evoking other models of the brand, the impressive frame of this mid-size sedan enhances its aggressive look.

Drivetrain
Coupled with either a 4-speed or 6-speed automatic engine, with manual mode available as an option, the basic 2.4-litre, 4-cylinder engine delivers 173 hp and 166 lb-ft of torque.

A 3.6-litre V6 engine that packs 283 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque is also an option. This engine is coupled with a 6-speed transmission with a manual mode.

Cargo Capacity
This sedan has 384 litres of trunk space.

Safety
Earning the 2012 IIHS Top Safety pick, the 2013 Dodge Avenger is outfitted with six airbags.

Comparable Models
Chevrolet Malibu, Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, Mazda 6, Nissan Altima, Subaru Legacy, Toyota Camry

Photo: Dodge

*References
René Charles, L'annuel de l'automobile 2013, Montréal Transcontinental, 2012, p.204
Morin Alain, Le guide de l'auto 2013, Montréal, Les éditions de l'Homme, 2012, p.238
www.dodge.ca

Red Bull Racing's technical director, Adrian Newey made a huge mistake for his outing in a Lamborghini Super Trofeo race at Silverstone when he hit the wall during the formation lap.

Newey, who occasionally competes in GT races, crashed his Gallardo into the wall during the formation lap of race 1, while warming up his tires heading to the starting grid.

Pros and Cons*
Pros
A spacious trunk, comfort and more precise handling that the previous generation...just a few of the 2013 Dodge Charger's strong points. Plus, the cylinder deactivation and the availability of all-wheel drive are also appreciated.

Cons
This sedan's weaker points include the unavailability of the 8-speed transmission on certain models, the fuel-hungry V8 engine, reduced rear visibility and cumbersome size.


Price
MRSP for the SE starts at $29,995.

The SXT, in RWD, starts at $33,445, with an extra $2,000 for the SXT Plus RWD.

The SXT AWD is available for $37,040 while the SXT Plus AWD costs $39,040.

The R/T RWD starts at $38,595.

The R/T Road/Track's base price is $40,595 while the R/T AWD is offered at $41,990.

Fuel Economy
The V6, coupled with the RWD 5-speed automatic transmission is rated at 11.7 L/100 km in the city and 7.3 L/100 km on the highway.

With the 8-speed transmission, fuel ratings are estimated around 10.9 L/100 km in the city and 6.4 L/100 km on the highway.

In AWD, the sedan consumes 11.4 L/100 km in the city and 7.3 L/100 km on the highway.

The V8 consumes around 13 L/100 km in the city and 8 L/100 km on the highway.

In AWD, engine consumption climbs to 14.4 L/100 km in the city and 8.5 L/100 km on the highway.

Exterior Styling
With the hood sloping prominently towards a more imposing cross-style grille, this full-size sedan's silhouette is characterized by bold headlights, LED-lined taillights and front door cut-outs.

Drivetrain
Under the hood, you'll find a 3.6-litre V6 engine that delivers 292 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. This engine is coupled with a 5 or 8-speed transmission, depending on the version.

The more powerful 5.7-litre V8 engine, with 370 hp and 395 lb-ft of torque, is coupled with a 4-speed automatic transmission.

Cargo Capacity
462 litres are available for storage.

Safety
Equipped with seven airbags, the Dodge Charger has been awarded the 2013 IIHS's Top Safety Pick.

Comparable Models
Acura TL, Buick LaCrosse, Chevrolet Impala, Ford Taurus, Hyundai Genesis, Nissan Maxima

Photo: Dodge

*References
Aubé Vincent, L'annuel de l'automobile 2013, Montréal Transcontinental, 2012, p.210
Duquet Denis, Le guide de l'auto 2013, Montréal, Les éditions de l'Homme, 2012, p.242
Duval Jacques, L'auto 2013, Montréal, Les éditions La Presse, 2012, p.209
www.dodge.ca

Only days before the open test session for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, GreenGT announced that it was withdrawing its H2 prototype race car - the first Le Mans racer to be powered by a hydrogen fuel cell.

The Green GT H2 was this year's Garage 56 entry reserved for 'new technology' project for the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Photo: Green GT

The power to the electric motors was to be provided by a full cell.

Unfortunately, the development of the project fell behind target, and the managers of Green GT had no other choice than to withdraw the entry.

The FIA and Le Mans organisers, ACO will continue to back the project and hopefully the H2 may compete in future events of the World Endurance Championship later this year, as a non-championship car.

Pros and Cons*
Pros
This SUV has ideal weight distribution, efficient brakes, impeccable soundproofing and the best road handling characteristics of its category along with standard all-wheel drive.

Cons
Steer away from this SUV if you dislike firm suspensions or if you desire a manual transmission or diesel-engine option. Furthermore, storage space is at a premium and the instrument panel is quite bland.


Price
The BMW X3 xDrive28i starts at $42 600. The V6 powered xDrive35i has a MSRP of $47 550.

* These prices apply to 2014 models.

Fuel Economy
The 4-cylinder engine consumes an average 8.5 L/100 km, or 9.7 L/100 km city and 7 L/100 km highway.

6-cylinder fuel economy ratings are estimated at 11.1 L/100 km city and 7.7 L/100 km highway for an average 10 L/100 km.

Exterior Styling
The 2013 BMW X3 crossover combines luxury and performance with its LED-framed bi-xenon headlights which add character and style.

Drivetrain
The base model is powered by a turbocharged 2.0 litre engine that develops 241 hp and 258 lb-ft torque.

The optional turbocharged 3.0 litre engine produces 300 hp and 300 lb-ft torque.

Both engines power all four wheels through an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Cargo Capacity
Cargo capacity can be expanded from from 550 to 1,600 litres.

Safety
Passenger safety in the 2013 BMW X3 is provided by six airbags and a variety of passive and active standard and optional safety features.

Comparable Models
Acura RDX, Audi Q5, Infiniti EX, Land Rover LR2, Mercedes-Benz GLK, Volvo XC60

Photo: BMW

*References
Aubé Vincent, L'annuel de l'automobile 2013, Montréal Transcontinental, 2012, p.140
Fillion Nadine, Le guide de l'auto 2013, Montréal, Les éditions de l'Homme, 2012, p.176
www.bmw.ca

Pros and Cons*
Pros
The 2013 Mercedes-Benz ML 63 AMG overwhelms with its awesome power and the superb fit and finish of the add-on performance and esthetic enhancements. The perfect balance between performance and comfort has been superbly achieved. Its all-wheel drive system provides a surprisingly satisfactory driving experience. Drivers can select either Eco, Sport, or Manual driving mode.

Cons
Fuel consumption is atrocious, despite the improved fuel economy. The hefty base price is quickly augmented by a long list of expensive options. Ergonomically, certain very obvious flaws should be corrected as soon as possible.

Photo: Mercedes-Benz

Price
The 2013 Mercedes-Benz ML 63 AMG starts at $101,900. The generous list of standard equipment includes; 21-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, a 7-inch navigation screen, a Harmon-Kardon entertainment system, Bluetooth, USB port, power sunroof, stop/start technology, heated and ventilated seats and parking assist.

A multitude of option packages are available, including; AMG sport package, at $5,500, which includes a performance package that boosts horsepower and torque, red brake calipers, AMG sport steering-wheel, as well as electronic speed-limiter deletion.

Multicontour front seats with massage are available for $1,200, along with a driving-assist package with blind-spot detection and lane departure warning system which adds $2,700, as well as a convenience package including heated rear seats and power-assisted tailgate at $4,400. A variety of exterior, interior, and entertainment and security packages can also be added.

Fuel consumption
While there has been a 30 % improvement in comparison to the previous model, the Mercedes-Benz ML 63 AMG still consumes 15.5 L/100 km city and 11.5 L/100 km highway.

AMG package includes:
- AMG sport exhaust with double chrome tips
- Auto-levelling pneumatic suspension
- Adaptative dampening system
- Sway bar anti-roll system
- Ventilated and cross-drilled heavy-duty disc-brakes
- 4-spoke sport steering-wheel with aluminum paddle-shifter and stainless-steel pedals
- AMG body-skirt package

Photo: Mercedes-Benz

Exterior design
Performance and luxury meet here. Among the different styling changes for 2012, headlights were re-sized, 21-inch wheels were added, along with the addition of bulging fender skirts and lower body panels which add girth and widen its stance, accentuating its sportiness. This SUV is the longest of the M-Class models, by 13 millimeters (for an overall length of 4,817 mm) and weighs in at 2,345 kilograms.

Drivetrain
The powerful V8 produces 518 hp and 516 ft-lb. of torque. The Performance package brings these totals to an impressive 550 and 560 hp respectively.

Power is transmitted to the four wheels through a 7-speed AMG SPEEDSHIFT PLUS 7G-TRONIC transmission.

Luggage capacity
Luggage capacity ranges from 690 to 2,010 litres, depending on seat configuration.

Security
In addition to the six airbags, the 2013 Mercedes-Benz ML 63 AMG is equipped with a new PRE-SAFE collision avoidance system. A number of additional active security features are standard, and various optional systems can also be added.

Comparable models
BMW X5M, Porsche Cayenne Turbo, Land Rover Range Rover Sport


*References
Brière Francis, L'annuel de l'automobile 2013, Montréal Transcontinental, 2012, p.434
Duval Jacques, L'auto 2013, Montréal, Les éditions La Presse, 2012, p.416
www.leftlanenews.com
www.trucktrend.com
www.mercedes-benz.ca

Pros and cons*
Pros
Its stylish design, generous list of standard features, ergonomic dash layout, balanced handling, overall roominess, generous cargo area and frugal fuel consumption make this sub-compact a force to be reckoned with.

Cons
Non-telescopic steering column in base model, pedestrian handling, hard seats, noisy engine at high revs, limited rear visibility and a sub-par audio system remind us that this is an entry-level vehicle.

Price
The Accent L 5-Door starts at $13,749 with standard manual transmission and sells for $14,999 when equipped with the automatic transmission.

The GL version has a starting price of $15,849 with manual transmission, and sells for $17,099 with automatic transmission.

The GLS manually equipped model starts at $17,699. The automatic transmission version sells for $18,949.

Photo: Hyundai

Fuel Economy
A manual transmission equipped Accent consumes 7.1 L/100 km city and 5.3 L/100 km highway.

Ratings of 7.2 L/100 km city and 5.2 L/100 km highway are achieved with the automatic transmission version.

Average fuel economy is in the 6.3 L/100 km range in both cases.

Exterior Styling
This pretty sub-compact has fluid and modern lines. Its hexagonally-shaped grille, projector-type headlights with concave reflector and sculpted sheet metal give it a sporty and dynamic look that is very appealing.

Drivetrain
The 2013 Hyundai Accent 5-Door is powered by a 4-cylinder 1.6 litre engine that produces 138 hp and 123 lb-ft torque.

This front-wheel drive vehicle offers a choice of either automatic or manual 6-speed transmission.

Cargo Capacity
This 5-door hatchback's roominess is its main drawing card. 487 litres of trunk space is available, but this expands to 1,287 litres with lowered rear seats.

Safety
Four-wheel disc brakes, standard active safety systems and six airbags help keep passengers safe.

Comparable Models
Chevrolet Sonic, Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit, Kia Rio5, Mazda2, Nissan Versa, Scion xD, Toyota Yaris

*References
Brière, Francis, L'Annuel de l'automobile 2013, Montréal, Transcontinental, 2012, p. 292
Charrette, Daniel, L'Auto 2013, Montréal, Les Éditions La Presse, 2012, p. 289
Fillion, Nadine, Le Guide de l'auto 2013, Montréal, Les Éditions de l'Homme, 2012, p. 312
www.hyundaicanada.com

The Dover 400 was Jimmie Johnson's to lose, and he did. A rare error on a final restart caused the five-time Cup champion to jump the restart with Juan Pablo Montoya which eventually resulted in Tony Stewart's first win of the year.

Johnson was black-flagged, fell to the rear, and Stewart swooped in for his first win of 2013 passing Montoya with three laps to go.

"If somebody would have told me it was going to be that way yesterday I would have told them they were crazy," the three-time Cup champion said. "This thing was not a car that could win the race. Just great pit strategy at the end. Steve Addington (his crew chief) made a great call there that last caution and gave us the opportunity to race for it up there."

Jimmie Johnson leading a restart. (Photo: NASCAR)

Montoya had exited the pit first, on the last round of pit stops, so as race leader he was supposed to lead on the final restart. Only he didn't get off the line quickly enough.

The Colombian, who ended up second, said “Jimmie was laying off about just nearly a car length from me, and I knew he was trying to jump the start. And I backed off a little bit for us to line up, and he didn't want to do it.

When we got to the (restart) line, I think he wanted to time it and he timed it too well, and he just ‑‑ you know, he wanted to get the jump on me and he just jump it too much. I would have tried to have done the same. It's one of those deals that when you time it too good, it actually hurts you.”

Johnson was either snookered by Montoya or just messed up, or both. He jumped ahead of Montoya who had been slow to take off and wasn't able to allow his rival to get back to the lead. That resulted in a black flag penalty.

“I was half-throttle for the whole front-stretch, said Johnson. “ And at some point, I gotta go. And in this situation, NASCAR has the judgment to decide if you jumped it or not. But I'm like, he's (Montoya) is not even going. So I'm not sure if his car broke or if off power or spun the tires. I don't know. So I'm running half-throttle down the frontstretch waiting for him and he never comes. So at that point, we got back going. Chad (Knaus, his crew chief) even told me on the radio that something that had happened and that I should just take off and not worry about it. And then we were called on it. So, a bummer way to lose a race. We certainly had the winning car.

Johnson led on lap 355. As the laps started ticking away, that's when fuel started to become a concern. But when polesitter, Denny Hamlin, hit the wall, everyone was able to take care of those concerns and set up for the big finish.

It was déjà vu for two Toyota drivers who blew engines due to valve spring problems. Matt Kenseth was leading when his engine let go on lap 156. Then on lap 276 Martin Truex, Jr. lost his engine.

Jeff Gordon finished third, while Kyle Busch finished fourth and Brad Keselowski fifth. Clint Bowyer, Joey Logano, Kevin Harvick, Mark Martin and Dale Earnhardt Jr. rounded out the top 10.

Johnson, who ended up 17th,, continues to the lead the points 30 ahead of Carl Edwards. Bowyer is third, followed by Kenseth, and Kevin Harvick.

From press release

With an anticipated attendance of 500,000 spectators over three days, the 14th annual LG Crescent Street Grand Prix Festival presented by Bud Light is back and bigger than even.

From June 6-8 Montreal's most popular street festival promises something for everyone. From small Italian cars and a Formula One show car, to autograph sessions with F1 drivers, live music on stage and fashion show on the catwalk.

There is truly unlimited excitement for the whole family. Montreal's most visited street festival occupies two full blocks between Sainte-Catherine Street and Sherbrooke Street.


LG Electronics returns for the fourth consecutive year as title sponsor of the event. Festival goers will have the opportunity to experience some of LG's innovative new Smart products, and have a chance to win fantastic LG prizes throughout the festival. The LG Champion's Podium photo experience is back and always a fun way for visitors to remember the Festival.

Thanks to the event's presenting sponsor, the Bud Light Stage will offer a variety of exciting Canadian acts performing a musical experience comprised of a mix of pop, rock and top 40's including Classified on Thursday night presented by Public Mobile as well as live music performances every night between 7 and 11 p.m. on the Bud Light Stage.

Event promoter, BBF Promotions is proud to welcome Dodge as a new sponsor of the 14th edition of the LG Crescent Street Festival and its associate brand, Fiat as the new automotive partner for 2013. No less than 11 cars from these two groups will be on display for everyone to admire. From the Fiat Abarth Cabrio, to the 2013 SRT Viper, visitors will be able to find horse power and style corresponding to their like.

Also taking place on the Bud Light Stage are professional driver appearances, which will be presented by TW Steel. Former Formula One driver David Coulthard, will be meeting fans on Thursday, June 6 at 6:15 p.m. and Emerson Fittipaldi, Formula One Champion and two-time Indy 500 winner, will be making an appearance on Saturday, June 8 at 5:30 p.m.

Opening ceremonies for the festival will take place on Thursday, June 6 at 12:30 p.m. on the Bud Light Stage and will be followed by the annual Celebrity Pit Stop Challenge at 1 p.m. and the media competition at 4:30 p.m. The public will be invited to test their tire-changing skills at the Pit Stop Challenge on Thursday, Friday and Saturday as the friendly competition will be open all day.

The LG Crescent Street Grand Prix Festival, presented by Bud Light, will be open every day from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Crescent Street taking up two full blocks of excitement between Sainte-Catherine and Sherbrooke streets, June 6-8 and will be followed by the Chrysler Classic Showcase on Sunday June 9.

Although not one of our favorite designs for the 2013, the Lincoln MKZ remains a crucial player in Ford's luxury brand lineup.

As with numerous recent Ford products, recalls seem to be par for the course. The newest Lincoln, already delayed by post-assembly quality inspection backlogs, is in the process of being recalled for potential electrical shock or corrosion due to exposed wiring in the engine bay.

So far, Ford reports that no one has been hurt by the exposed wire. To date, roughly 500 2013 Lincoln MKZs are being recalled in both Canada and the U.S.

If you are the proprietor of an MKZ and have not yet been contacted by Lincoln, get in touch with your dealer and/or Lincoln directly. Here's a link to Lincoln's customer care page if you require contact info: Lincoln Canada

Source: Motorauthority

Despite the rain and cold temperatures in Montmagny, Quebec, there were plenty of enthusiasts on hand for the first round of the 2013 Drift Mania Canadian Championship (DMCC).

On Saturday, it was practice time for both Pro and Pro Am drivers, some of whom were trying to get more familiar with a brand new car and particularly the very technical course set up by the judges. Qualifying followed in late afternoon.

New qualifying rules
The game has changed for 2013. Drawing inspiration from the Formula Drift Championship in the U.S., the organizers are now determining the top 8 after the first qualifying session, which consists of a single lap, one driver at a time. This way, contenders must give their best shot right off the bat.

The old formula that used only the best of two laps encouraged some to drive conservatively during the first lap in order to secure points. Drivers were automatically given a zero for spinning their car, putting two wheels off the track, hitting a cone, or not maintaining a drift.

What happens now is that the second lap allows those who didn't get a high enough score in their first attempt to improve their result. Even if their second score trumps one of the initial top 8, the latter won't be affected.

Thiffault, Langlois top qualifiers
In the Pro Am Class, Martin Langlois finished first, followed by Michel Pelchat and Gonzalo Diaz. Alexandre Blanchette (4th) and Jonathan Guitard (5th) also shined in their DMCC debut. Only nine drivers managed to qualify for the main event, which effectively became a top 9.

With a score of 90.5%, Jonathan Thiffault topped all other qualifiers in the Pro Class. Rounding out the top 5 were Francis Tassé, Pat Cyr, Jeff Laflamme, and Tanner Munson.

Unfortunately, Minnesota's Mike Pollard could not advance due to a faulty transmission. Meanwhile, Dominic Desrosiers suffered engine problems after qualifying in 13th place.

In a surprising twist, defending champ Marc Landreville's engine broke down during the morning practice, but his good friend Jonathan Guitard agreed to share his own car to allow him to take part in the qualifying session. As per the rules, Landreville had to use that same Toyota Soarer for the Sunday competition.

Pro Am Class
Martin Langlois hit the wet track first with his purple Nissan 240SX. The partly dry, partly slippery conditions gave the drivers a lot to handle. Gonzalo Diaz, who was making a comeback after participating in the 2010 championship, could not crack the top 4.

The season's first “One More Time” involved Alexandre Blanchette and Youri Lévesque, with the former doing just enough to earn the $750 prize for a third place.

The two finalists had to complete six laps before the judges could crown a winner, namely Michel Pelchat. Martin Langlois had to settle for second place.

Photo: Photo: Joel C. Couture - Eric Taillefer

Pro Class
Mother Nature proved more kind to Pro drivers, allowing them to burn lots of rubber and shroud the fans with a thick cloud of smoke. The top 16 was marked by some heated battles and required at least one “One More Time” for half the duels.

During the top 8, Jonathan Thiffault violently drove off the track, and fortunately came away uninjured. Maxim Lemoine, driving a Chevrolet truck, took on his childhood idol, Ontario's Pat Cyr. The latter impressed and advanced to the top 4, where he narrowly beat Éric Paradis.

Cyr then went on to earn the $10,000 first-place prize after he and Landreville put on quite a show. Don't miss our photo gallery for all the highlights.

The next round (Pro Class only) will take place at Autodrome St-Eustache on June 29th.

Photo: Joel C. Couture - Eric Taillefer

Pro Am Class results
1- Michel Pelchat
2- Martin Langlois
3- Alexandre Blanchette
4- Youri Lévesque

Pro Class results
1- Pat Cyr
2- Marc Landreville
3- Éric Paradis
4- Bob Patinka

From Pirelli

Pirelli will bring the P Zero White medium and P Zero Red supersoft tires to Montreal: both tyres with a low working range, which makes them perfectly matched to the likely weather conditions at the semi-permanent Gilles Villeneuve circuit.

Temperatures are usually quite cool and there have been a number of wet races in the past, which means that the Cinturato Green intermediates and Cinturato Blue wet tires might also make an appearance.

In addition, Pirelli will also bring two sets per car of a prototype medium tire, which features a revised rear construction that is likely to be used for the rest of the season, for use on Friday only.

Photo: Pirelli

“Canada is always one of the most unpredictable races of the year and this is partly because it is so challenging for tires, mostly due to the heavy braking and traction demands of the circuit,” said Paul Hembery, Pirelli director of motorsport.

“Coupled with a high degree of track evolution over the weekend, effective tire management has always been a key to success in Montreal, right from when the circuit was inaugurated in the late 1970s. We'd expect two to three pit stops per car, but we'll only be able to make a precise forecast after Friday once we've seen some running out on track. It's a circuit where weather conditions often play a key role: our very first Canadian Grand Prix in 2011 actually turned out to be the longest race in Formula One history because of heavy rain and a subsequent race stoppage,” Hembery added.

“Last year was dry, but we witnessed a new record with the seventh winner from seven races. Because of the high degree of tire wear and degradation, we would expect to see a number of different strategies at work, as was the case last year - with teams deciding whether to go for a ‘sprint' strategy or to do fewer stops and put the accent on endurance. Last year the ‘sprint' approach won the race, but with so many different parameters at work, the teams will have to analyse the data - not to mention the weather forecast - very carefully before committing to any particular tactics. Often a flexible approach works best in Canada, so we can also expect many teams to be leaving their options open, allowing the drivers to really make the difference when it counts,” Paul Hembery explained.

Acura is working hard on its brand, its image, and primarily its product. Currently, its lineup features six vehicles, most of which fall short of expectations.

The arrival of the ILX last year and a much-revised TL shortly before has squeezed the TSX into a corner, and its place in Honda's luxury division is highly questionable. Throw in the new slightly larger RLX and Acura has four cars that are practically stepping on each other's toes.

These details, and the fact that the platform on which it is based is getting on in age and is likely to be replaced with something larger in the future, leaves little room for the next TSX.

Sadly, the 1st generation TSX was a fabulous car, but that may be its only claim to fame.

Source: Automotive News

Autosport has reported that Williams is not yet planning to switch its focus to 2014, despite suffering the worst start to a season in its history.

The team entered this season with high hopes for its FW35 challenger, but from the previous six rounds, has failed to score a single point.

However, the team's chief race engineer, Xevi Pujolar, has said the team's focus is on solving the problems with this year's car, which in turn, will help solve any issues with next year's car when Formula 1 undergoes its first major rule change since 2009.

Photo: Williams F1 Team

"The first priority is to understand the car this year, otherwise how do you know what will work next year?”

"So at the moment our priority is to sort out this car and perform on track."

Pujolar also believes the team has made progress - albeit moderately - since the start of the year.

"We will not go suddenly from where we are to the top four.

"I think we are making progress and we feel that it is getting better and better, but until we get into Q3 and get the car in the points we cannot say that we've done it.”