Auto News 5

The municipal authority for the city of Detroit has filed for bankruptcy and protection from creditors under US law. The city faces mounting debts estimated at over USD18bn and has been in long-term financial decline.

Mazda sees no need to build cars in Europe despite rising sales in the region. Helped by models such as the CX-5 crossover and new Mazda6, the company's Europe vehicle sales increased by 5.4 percent in the first half.

Russia's auto market is on track to become Europe's largest and the fifth biggest globally by 2020 as car ownership increases, a Boston Consulting Group report said.

Russia's auto market is on track to become Europe's largest and the fifth biggest globally by 2020 as car ownership increases, a Boston Consulting Group report said.

Russia's auto market is on track to become Europe's largest and the fifth biggest globally by 2020 as car ownership increases, a Boston Consulting Group report said.

The 21st Indonesian International Motor Show is taking place in Jakarta. There were some significant global debuts at the event, including the second model for the Datsun brand and a new Honda MPV.

The 21st Indonesian International Motor Show is taking place in Jakarta. There were some significant global debuts at the event, including the second model for the Datsun brand and a new Honda MPV.

The 21st Indonesian International Motor Show is taking place in Jakarta. There were some significant global debuts at the event, including the second model for the Datsun brand and a new Honda MPV.

The 21st Indonesian International Motor Show is taking place in Jakarta. There were some significant global debuts at the event, including the second model for the Datsun brand and a new Honda MPV.

The 21st Indonesian International Motor Show is taking place in Jakarta. There were some significant global debuts at the event, including the second model for the Datsun brand and a new Honda MPV.

The 21st Indonesian International Motor Show is taking place in Jakarta. There have been some significant global debuts at the event, including the second model for the Datsun brand and a new Honda MPV.

The 21st Indonesian International Motor Show is taking place in Jakarta. There have been some significant global debuts at the event, including the second model for the Datsun brand and a new Honda MPV.

The 21st Indonesian International Motor Show is taking place in Jakarta. There have been some significant global debuts at the event, including the second model for the Datsun brand.

The 21st Indonesian International Motor Show is taking place in Jakarta. There have been some significant global debuts at the event, including the second model for the Datsun brand.

Honda is the first manufacturer to announce a vehicle world premiere at the 21st Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS). The event will take place from 19-29 September.

Another member of the Audi A3 family is expected to reach the market in 2016 or 2017: a crossover that targets BMW's planned front-wheel-drive compact crossover.

From GMM

Bernie Ecclestone insists CVC, the owners of formula one's commercial rights, are "very happy" to keep him in charge of the sport.

That is despite the fact the 82-year-old has been formally charged with bribery by prosecutors in Germany, who allege he blackmailed the now-jailed banker Gerhard Gribkowsky to undersell the rights to CVC.

After news of Ecclestone's indictment broke, CVC issued a terse statement saying it will "monitor" the situation.

"An oath of loyalty sounds different," the major German newspaper Die Welt surmised.

Michael Schmidt, of Auto Motor und Sport, agreed: "It (CVC's statement) does not sound like unconditional support."

Additionally, FIA president Jean Todt is quoted as saying: "He (Ecclestone) is employed by CVC, so it's their decision.

"The responsibility for the future of formula one is more about CVC than about Bernie," he is also quoted as saying by Neue Zurcher Zeitung.

Also monitoring the situation is BayernLB, the Munich bank that Gribkowsky was representing when Ecclestone allegedly bribed him.

A spokesman for the bank said: "We are following events closely."

Bernie Ecclestone's birthday party in 2012, in India. (Photo: WRi2)

In the meantime, Ecclestone's troubles are the big talking point behind closed doors in F1 circles.

Bild newspaper correspondent Helmut Uhl wrote: "Team bosses, sponsors, big companies such as Ferrari, Red Bull and their partners are wondering: is Ecclestone still viable as formula one boss?"

The Daily Telegraph's Tom Cary said: "In most sports it would be difficult to imagine a chief executive remaining in power with these sorts of charges swirling about. But formula one is not most sports -- and Ecclestone is not most men."

Indeed, Ecclestone insists he has CVC's backing.

"I have heard from them and they are very happy as I am for me to continue to run the business," he is quoted by the Daily Express correspondent Bob McKenzie.

"Nothing has changed. Nothing affects how I look after the best interests of F1. No one has said anything to the contrary," added Ecclestone.

For now, F1's competing teams are quiet, but the first comment has been made by Sauber team boss Monisha Kaltenborn, according to Neue Zurcher Zeitung newspaper.

"In general," she said, "such headlines are not good for formula one."

From GMM

At the end of a day billed by some as his audition for a Red Bull seat, Daniel Ricciardo topped the times at the Silverstone test.

But the Australian's best time was actually at the wheel of his usual Toro Rosso, while in the championship-leading RB9 he was slightly slower.

The 23-year-old, competing against Kimi Raikkonen for the departing Mark Webber's 2014 drive, also beached the Red Bull in the gravel at one point.

"The off was my mistake. Probably just pushing a bit too hard," Ricciardo said afterwards.

Daniel Ricciardo. (Photo: Red Bull Racing)

Asked if the pressure of the speculation had got to him, he insisted: "No, it's fun, it's exciting. I didn't take this day as a duel with Kimi. But I enjoyed it.

"I think this test is something for Red Bull to look at, but there's still the rest of the season with Toro Rosso to do, so I'll switch my focus back to that and won't get too caught up in any rumours," Ricciardo added.

"Whatever happens, happens. If I don't get the chance, at least this was a nice little bonus. If the decision was up to me, I'm ready," he is quoted by Italy's Autosprint.

His potential 2014 teammate Sebastian Vettel will be in the same car on Friday, and Ricciardo confirmed he will be "watching the times" with interest.

"I hope he won't make me look silly," he laughed.

Antonio Felix Da Costa. (Photo: WRi2)

It is expected that, should Ricciardo be called up to replace Webber, Toro Rosso will fill his spot at the Faenza based team next year with 21-year-old Portuguese driver Antonio Felix da Costa.

Da Costa also tested for Red Bull on Thursday, and said afterwards: "I got out of the car and said 'I'm ready, I want that'."

I know all too well that what I'm about to write will generate plenty of controversy. Anyway...

Last weekend, I attended the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Of course, NASCAR and Formula 1 are worlds apart, but there's something quite refreshing about the realization that you don't need to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in carbon fibre, super-computers, and ultra-sophisticated wind tunnels to get wild, action-packed races with intense battles.

Despite its ruggedly Spartan looks, a Sprint Cup car is fairly advanced, and uses a number of technologies from Formula 1. Having said that, it's not what I fell in love with recently.

Let me tell you about the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (NWMT), which involves open-wheel stock cars powered by small-block V8 engines. This might shock you, but I got way more excited watching these machines than exotic racing series like the Ferrari Challenge or even the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup!

NWMT cars, aka Modifieds, are built on a highly rigid tubular chassis wrapped in plain sheetmetal. To prevent wheel damage and allow some contact between drivers, they feature nerf bars at both ends and on the sides, similar to older karts.

The mighty engines rely on good old Holley carburetors to crank out around 650 horsepower.

The incredibly wide slick tires are bolted to an asymmetrical suspension. Yep, since Modifieds only race on small, paved ovals, their left wheels are set farther off the centre of the car than the right ones.

The V8's massive torque is put to good use by way of a two-speed transmission.

I took a close look at the various parts, components and welds, and I can attest to their high levels of quality. There's no cheap stuff, here; only professional work.

With a relatively low weight of 1,200 kg (2,645 lbs), Modifieds deliver mind-blowing performance with the rear driving wheels spinning at full throttle.

A quick search online yields a large selection of used Modifieds still in great condition. Most of them are priced at around $20,000, which is very reasonable given their capabilities.

So, here's the recipe for success: a stock car, lots of power, minimal aerodynamics, and no driving aids whatsoever (especially of the electronic variant). It's funny, because I recall a certain Gilles Villeneuve saying the same thing 35 years ago...

Photo: Getty Images for Nascar

From GMM

Mercedes has thrown its "full confidence" behind Toto Wolff, following reports he made disparaging remarks about his colleagues and bosses.

The German magazine Sport Bild this week claimed Wolff, Mercedes' new F1 co-owner and motor sport director, spoke negatively about Dieter Zetsche, Ross Brawn and Niki Lauda during a conversation in February with former HRT boss Colin Kolles.

Mercedes initially declined to comment.

But parent Daimler's head of global communications Jorg Howe has now been quoted as saying: "He (Wolff) has our full confidence and will continue his successful work.

"We know that formula one is a shark tank," Howe told Germany's Sport1. "If you are successful, you will be pelted with mud."

Toto Wolff, Mercedes AMG. (Photo: WRi2)