Auto News 5

Thanks to Dominik Farnbacher and Marc Goossens, who co-drove the No. 91 Viper GTS-R to first in class at Road America, SRT Motorsports got to celebrate its first win since bringing the Viper back to the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) last year.

Viper's factory team had not won since 2000.

SRT Motorsports had come close last month, but ultimately lost out to Corvette Racing's Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner, who finished third at Elkhart Lake. Goossens and Farnbacher also beat Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia, who piloted another Corvette to second in GT.

In P1, Muscle Milk's Lucas Luhr and Klaus Graf won again at the wheel of their HPD ARX-03c, but it was the revigorated DeltaWing that highlighted the race. Drivers Katherine Legge and Andy Meyrick each led during their respective stint, for a total of 16 laps.

Andy Meyrick, DeltaWing (Photo: AndyMeyrick.com)

Most importantly, the duo praised the DeltaWing's newly found reliability. For the first time this season, the revolutionary car actually made it the the finish, albeit only third place in class. Tony Burgess and Chris McMurry drove Dyson Racing's No. 16 Lola-Mazda to second place.

Level 5 Motorsports' Scott Tucker and standing in driver Simon Pagenaud, who replaced the injured Ryan Briscoe, won in P2.

Bruno Junqueira and Duncan Ende (RSR Racing) earned a second PC win this season, while Spencer Pumpelly and Nelson Canache Jr. finished first in GTC.

Marc Goossens, Dominik Farnbacher (Photo: DrivesSRT.com)

Race results - Road America, Elkhart Lake (ALMS)
1 - Graf/Luhr (HPD ARX-03c) - Pickett - 67 laps 2h46m40"847s
2 - Burgess/McMurry (Lola B12/60 Mazda) - Dyson - - 0"306
3 - Junqueira/Ende (Oreca FLM09) - Rocketsports - 19"788
4 - Marcelli/Cumming (Oreca FLM09) - BAR1 - 29"809
5 - Meyrick/Legge (DeltaWing-Mazda) - Panoz - 30"258
6 - Tucker/Pagenaud (HPD ARX-03b) - Level 5 - 32"650
7 - Sharp/Cosmo (HPD ARX-03b) - ExtremeSpeed - 34"882
8 - Tucker/Franchitti (HPD ARX-03b) - Level 5 - 35"726
9 - Guasch/Cheng (Oreca FLM09) - PR1 - 37"601
10 - Bennett/Braun (Oreca FLM09) - CORE - 38"467
11 - Nunez/Shears (Oreca FLM09) - Preformance Tech - 39"728
12 - Schultis/Van Der Zande (Oreca FLM09) - DragonSpeed - 66
13 - Mitchell/French (Oreca FLM01) - Bar1 - 66
14 - Goossens/Farnbacher (SRT Viper) - SRT - 65
15 - Magnussen/Garcia (Corvette ZR1) - Corvette - 65
16 - Gavin/Milner (Corvette ZR1) - Corvette - 65
17 - Miller/Holzer (Porsche 997) - Miller - 65
18 - Long/Kimber-Smith (Porsche 997) - CORE - 65
19 - Bomarito/Wittmer (SRT Viper) - SRT - 65
20 - Auberlen/Martin (BMW Z4) - Rahal - 65
21 - Mueller/Edwards (BMW Z4) - Rahal - 65
22 - Henzler/Sellers (Porsche 997) - Falken - 65
23 - Beretta/Malucelli (Ferrari GTS3 458) - Risi - 65
24 - Canache/Pumpelly (Porsche 997 Cup) - FlyingLizard - 62
25 - MacNeil/Bleekemolen (Porsche 997 Cup) - Alex Job - 62
26 - Cisneros-Edwards (Porsche 997 Cup) - NGT - 62
27 - Dempsey/Lally (Porsche 997 Cup) - Demsey/DelPiero - 62
28 - Neiman/VonMoltke (Porsche 997) - FlyingLizard - 62
29 - Snow/Courtney (Porsche 997 Cup) - TRG - 62
33 - Hedlund/Heylen (Porsche 997 Cup) - JDX - 58
34 - Brown/Van Overbeek (HPD ARX-03b) - ExtremeSpeed - 29
35 - Keen/Bell (Ferrari 458) - AlexJob - 14
36 - Keating/Faulkner (Porsche 997 Cup) - TRG - 4

From GMM

Jean-Eric Vergne, reportedly overlooked for the 2014 Red Bull vacancy, claims he has done a better job than Daniel Ricciardo this year.

The Frenchman conceded recently that the world champion team is more seriously considering teammate Ricciardo to replace Mark Webber because of the young Australian's superior consistency.

But Vergne has now told France's L'Equipe that Ricciardo's reputation is wrong.

Daniel Ricciardo, Jean-Éric Vergne (Photo: Peter Fox/Getty Images)

"Red Bull is the world champion team and they need a driver who can score points in every race," said the 23-year-old.

"But if you look at the results, Ricciardo finished every race but I did not, and I have more points than him," Vergne insisted.

"But I have this image, even if it is false, but in the paddock Ricciardo is seen as more consistent than me."

Vergne complained that, of his multiple failures to finish races, on only one occasion was it his fault.

And he added: "If you look at the races that I had no problems, I thrashed my teammate -- he was nowhere."

Jean-Éric Vergne (Photo: Peter Fox/Getty Images)

Vergne's latest comments coincide with suggestions that, although Red Bull has said the Frenchman should get another season at Toro Rosso, the energy drink company is also keen to give Antonio Felix da Costa his debut.

He acknowledged that the decision-making process at Red Bull is complex.

"It's not that (team boss Christian) Horner takes the decision. Adrian Newey is also heard, as are Dietrich Mateschitz and Helmut Marko," said Vergne.

"I understand the risks of taking a young driver like me or Daniel. And it's even harder when they see a driver who does not finish all of the races."

D.J. Kennington of St. Thomas, Ontario passed race leader, former Formula 1 champion, Jacques Villeneuve in the closing laps of the Juliawine.com 100 to win the NASCAR Canadian Tire race held at the Grand Prix of Trois-Rivieres.

In front of a crowd in excess of 30,000, Kennington passed Villeneuve on lap 38 before the fifth caution flag of the day flew on lap 40 to set up the exciting finish.

Photo: Paolo Pedicelli

On the final restart, Ranger, who had gotten around Villeneuve just after Kennington made his pass, tried in every turn of the 11-turn, 1.53-mile street circuit to rattle Kennington, but was forced to settle for the runner-up position.

Jason Hathaway finished fourth followed by IndyCar Series regular Alex Tagliani in fifth.

Martin Roy, Alex Labbe, Scott Steckly, Jeff Lapcevich and Trevor Seibert completed the top ten.

Oh, the potential
When I heard the brand new Forester XT would be lacking a hood scoop and the option of a manual transmission, I immediately pushed it aside as being a complete and utter waste. What good is the return of the sporty version of a much liked and revered model if its roots are completely ignored?

Well, after a week behind the wheel of the 2014 Subaru Forester 2.0XT I've come to appreciate the subtleties that make up this new crossover, from its SI-Drive selector to the ever-so-faint turbo spool that's just audible enough to make you grin upon acceleration.


What is a Subaru Forester XT?
Well, first off, some might call the Subaru Forester the grandfather of all crossovers. Here's one of the vehicles that started the movement in the late ‘90s when it emerged as a compact crossover wagon (oh that dirty word).

The Forester offers a pleasant in between for those looking for a practical go-anywhere family vehicle.

The Forester XT model first appeared in 2003 in North America and featured a turbocharged 2.5L engine.

Now in its fourth generation, the Subaru Forester has entered the realm of CVT transmissions and a brand new X-MODE all-wheel drive control system for hill decent control, as well as growing in height, length and girth.

Here's one of the vehicles that started the movement in the late ‘90s when it emerged as a compact crossover wagon. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

2014 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Price and Specs
Across the board, there are nine Foresters for you to peruse. Sounds like a lot, but the differences in trim levels can be as simple as different wheels, or as extreme as a bigger engine and technology like Subaru's EyeSight system.

The 2014 Subaru Forester lineup starts at $25,995 for the Forester 2.5i and goes up to $37,995 for the 2.0XT Limited Package with EyeSight. My test vehicle was the second most expensive in the XT lineup, with a Limited Package and no EyeSight for $32,495.

Six of the nine Subaru Foresters in the lineup feature a 2.5L horizontally opposed 4-cylinder engine good for 170 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque. A 6-speed manual transmission is available in the lower models, and Subaru's Lineatronic CVTs can be had across the lineup.

The 2014 Subaru Forester 2.0XT features a fabulous 2.0L BOXER twin-scroll turbocharged 4-pot that pushes out 250 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque.

As always, Subaru's symmetrical, full-time AWD is also on board across all Forester models.

The 2014 Subaru Forester 2.0XT features a fabulous 2.0L BOXER twin-scroll turbocharged 4-pot that pushes out 250 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. (Photo: Subaru)

Driving the 2014 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Limited
A friend of mine recently sold his '03 Forester XT. Complete with a hood scoop and 5-speed manual transmission, his white Forester had some serious attitude -- just as I feel like our '04 WRX has so much more personality than any “new” Rex. Performance oriented Subarus must have attitude.

The 2014 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Limited is quite quick off the line, with its CVT transmission that can blissfully “act” like it has gears (eight of them, in fact, with S# -- Sport sharp -- engaged). Steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters make for a sportier disposition, but there was still something missing.

The SI-Drive driver mode selection system makes for sharper throttle response, fake downshifts and a more aggressive drive, but it wasn't enough. Also, the ventilated disc brakes front and back were less than stellar. I found the pedal spongy and unresponsive.

Here's a car that, to me, is meant to be modified. Hear me out: The 2014 Subaru Forester 2.0XT can be purchased by your average Joe looking for a family vehicle that's got some punch when asked, one that can take the fam on camping weekends in the woods while also taking everyone to school and work on Monday.

However, slap on an exhaust, remove the turbo silencer, upgrade the brake, do something about the steering (which is float-y and feels a bit dead in spots), tweak the suspension and bushings and you've got a proper Subaru. I came to realize that I'm OK with that.

Kudos to Subaru for releasing a Forester XT that's as accessible to the masses as it is to the enthusiasts.

Steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters make for a sportier disposition, but there was still something missing. The SI-Drive driver mode selection system makes more aggressive drive, a but it wasn't enough. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

Inside and Out of the 2014 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Limited
I absolutely love the new look of the Forester. They somehow kept the square look while simultaneously rounding out the edges and giving it a modern, sleek look. The LED headlights on the Limited Package, along with a bit of chrome trim, add to the flair of the XT.

Inside, it's standard Subaru. I've gotten used to a bare-bones interior with my Impreza, so the Forester felt like home. It's functional, easy to use, roomy and comfortable. What more could you ask for?

The LED headlights on the Limited Package, along with a bit of chrome trim, add to the flair of the XT. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

Comparing the 2014 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Limited
When it comes to comparison, we actually just put the Forester up against the likes of the Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5 and Volkswagen's Tiguan in our Compact Crossover Comparison. The results speak for themselves.

The BMW X1 and Audi Q5 are potential alternatives as well in the XT's price range.

The Department for Transport in the U.K. is seriously considering a ban on Google Glass for all drivers, arguing that it represents a distraction on the road.

“We are aware of the impending rollout of Google Glass and are in discussion with the Police to ensure that individuals do not use this technology while driving. It is important that drivers give their full attention to the road when they are behind the wheel and do not behave in a way that stops them from observing what is happening on the road,” a Department for Transport spokesperson said.

The British government plans to slap offenders with a £60 ($95) fine and three demerit points, which is comparable to using a cell phone while driving.

Source : engadget.com

Photo: Wikipedia

From GMM

According to a media report, Valencia's formula one foray is set to be officially folded.

Last week, we reported that - according to a draft 2014 calendar that is quietly doing the rounds - the Spanish port city will not host a grand prix next year.

That is despite earlier reports that Valencia and Barcelona have agreed to annually alternate a single Spanish grand prix from 2014 onwards.

Tickets for next year's Barcelona round have, however, already gone on sale, a May 11 date has been set, and El Mundo newspaper said the alternation contract was actually never signed.

Valencia in 2012 (Photo: Pirelli)

Now, Diario Sport newspaper reports that the only negotiations between Bernie Ecclestone and Valencia president Alberto Fabra are about how much Valencia should pay for breaking its existing race contract.

Reportedly, F1's chief executive wants Valencia to pay the full EUR 33 million termination penalty, but Fabra "is in talks to soften" that maximum hit.

Diario Sport claims Valencia treasurer Juan Carlos Moragues Ferrer said recently that, amid the economic crisis, the government wanted to "meet our obligations without having to close schools or hospitals".

"In this context," wrote correspondent Laura Lopez Albiac, "it would be very difficult to explain to taxpayers that more money is being allocated for an extraordinary item such as F1."

A few weeks ago, I performed my annual pilgrimage to the International de Granby, a large quasi-local antique car show.

In years past, I've shared the trek to the small town in the Eastern Townships with my uncle, proprietor of a gorgeous 1967 Cadillac DeVille Convertible and, my favourite of them all, his 1969 Ford F-100 pickup.

This year, my father decided to join in on the party. As the saying goes; the apple never falls too far from the tree. Although my love affair -- or is that obsession (?) -- is closer to my uncle's, my old man's still a car-guy who's owned a pair of MGBs (including a GT!), a Beetle, a Dart Swinger, an AMC Hornet, and a Mazda MX-6 GT to name a few.

The car-guy in him, buried under golfing and the Florida sun, surfaced that Saturday at the car show.

I've long since been bugging him to purchase a toy -- another MGB or something a little more recent such as a 1st gen Miata. He's been on the fence about it for a while, but then at the show he took a fancy to a 1966 Chrysler Windsor two-door hardtop. The bug had bit.

We continued walking around and considered a red '90 Miata and a '73 MGB (a little pricey). I tried to convince him to look at a Chevy pickup and a few others, but there was nothing I could do to dissuade his heart from the Windsor.

Unfortunately, the Windsor was in rougher shape than we initially thought. A few friends of my uncle, collectors and buyers themselves, gave it a once-over and it did not pass their test.

Although the Windsor is now in the past, Dad's all over Kijiji and eBay shopping for something to fill the second spot in his garage (which is currently taken by my WRX...).

The car bug is a serious affliction; my wife can attest to that. Although both my WRX and Jetta rarely see the light of day, these cars are part of who I am, they in fact define my very person. As there is no cure for this disease, the only way to nurture a person stricken by the bug is to allow them to work through the fever and give them support, love and, above all, understanding.

If my mother is reading this, please know that if you allow dad to buy a car, you'll be making both he and I feel much, much better...

Photo: Michael Gil / Flickr

From GMM

Reports of a continuing financial crisis at Sauber are still emerging.

With the Swiss team's Russian saviour deal still waiting to be finalised, Bild am Sonntag newspaper reports that Sauber's debts still stand at EUR 80 million, including unpaid bills to suppliers totalling 35 million.

"The time bomb is ticking," the newspaper's correspondents Helmut Uhl and Frank Schneider report.

They claim that, in addition to Ferrari's unpaid customer engine bill, Sauber has also not paid for its Pirelli tires in 2013.

It was already known that lead driver Nico Hulkenberg is waiting for his pay, but Bild am Sonntag now reports that rookie teammate Esteban Gutierrez has also not been paid in 2013.

And the report said 2012 Sauber driver Kamui Kobayashi is also owed about EUR 2.5 million.

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber C32 (Photo: Sauber)

Reportedly, the already delayed Russian saviour deal is also further in doubt due to the uncertain future job prospects of one of the key figures, Oleg Sirotkin.

That's because if Sirotkin's son, 17-year-old Sergey Sirotkin, does not debut as expected in 2014, the entire Russian deal could be off.

Correspondents Uhl and Schneider report that Sauber might need to consider a 'plan B' -- the sale of the Hinwil based team.

Former Force India and HRT boss Colin Kolles is apparently ready on the sidelines with sponsor millions to exchange for a stake in the Swiss outfit.

Daimler's Smart brand plans to introduce more models and expand its sales network in China. The carmaker aims to launch an electric version of its Smart ForTwo and also add a new four-seat model that is being developed with Renault.

Daimler's Smart brand plans to introduce more models and expand its sales network in China. The carmaker aims to launch an electric version of its Smart ForTwo and also add a new four-seat model that is being developed with Renault.

Daimler's Smart brand plans to introduce more models and expand its sales network in China. The carmaker aims to launch an electric version of its Smart ForTwo and also add a new four-seat model that is being developed with Renault.

For generations, car buying declined as consumers entered their golden years. Now, boomers are refusing to follow their parents' lead and go quietly into the car buying night.

New Zealander Brendon Hartley and American Scott Mayer (BMW/Riley) made the best of a few cautions in Road America to snatch their first career win in Grand-Am.

As it happens, it was their Starworks teammates' misfortunes, an hour from the checkered flag, that brought the caution that helped them to the front of the pack.

Because Hartley and Mayer pitted then, when Alex Popow and Ryan Dalziel lost their engine, they could stay out when a later caution came out to retrieve pole sitters Dane Cameron and Wayne Nonnamaker's BMW/Riley.

Joao Barbosa and Christian Fittipaldi (Corvette DP) led their teammates Brian and Burt Frisselle (Corvette DP) to the last two steps of the Daytona Prototype podium.

Jon Fogarty and Alex Gurney's (Corvette DP) eighth place finish allowed them within four points of championship leaders Dalziel and Popow.

From second place on the grid, Canadian Paul Dalla Lana and teammate Bill Auberlen (BMW M3) drove straight to the top step of the GT category, ahead of Patrick Long and Patrick Lindsey (Porsche GT3) and Michael Marsal and Maxime Martin (BMW M3).

It was the pair's third victory of the season.

Meanwhile, Joel Miller and co-driver Tristan Nunez (Mazda 6) came out on top in GX.

Photo: StarworksMotorsports.com

Race results - Road America, Elkhart Lake (Grand-Am)
1 - Hartley-Mayer (Riley-BMW) - Starworks - 70 laps
2 - Barbosa-Fittipaldi (Corvette DP/Coyote) - ActionEx - 70
3 - Frisselle-Frisselle (Corvette DP/Coyote) - ActionEx - 70
4 - Pruett-Rojas (Riley-BMW) - Ganassi - 70
5 - Negri-Pew (Riley-Ford) - Shank - 70
6 - Wilson-Yacaman (Riley-Ford) - Shank - 70
7 - Angelelli-Taylor (Corvette DP/Dallara) - Taylor - 70
8 - Fogarty-Gurney (Corvette DP/Riley) - Stallings - 70
9 - Di Guida-Bourdais (Corvette DP/Coyote) - 8Star - 70
10 - Auberlen-Dalla Lana (BMW M3) - Turner - 68
11 - Lindsey-Long (Porsche 997) - Park Place - 68
12 - Marsal-Martin (BMW M3) - Turner - 68
13 - Wilden-Segal (Ferrari 458) - AIM - 68
14 - Lally-Potter (Porsche 997) - Magnus - 68
15 - Balzan-Keen (Ferrari 458) - Corsa - 68
16 - Assentato-Lazzaro (Ferrari 458) - AIM - 68
17 - Edwards-Liddell (Chevy Camaro) - Stevenson - 67
18 - Miller-Nunez (Mazda 6) - Speedsource - 63
19 - Pumpelly-Norman (Porsche Cayman) - BGB - 63
20 - Bleekemolen-Bergmeister (Porsche 997) - Muehlner - 63
21 - Long-Tremblay (Ferrari 458) - Speedsource - 55
22 - Cameron-Nonnamaker (Riley-BMW) - Sahlen - 54
23 - Nonnamaker-Nonnamaker (Riley-BMW) - Sahlen - 54
24 - Potolicchio-Valiante-Sarrazin (Corvette DP/Coyote) - 8Star - 53
25 - Maiman-Doyle (Porsche 997) - Muehlner - 50
26 - Ruud-Stanton (Ferrari 458) - Scuderia Corsa - 49
27 - Taylor-Westbrook (Corvette DP) - SpiritOfDaytona - 47
28 - Dalziel-Popow (Riley-Ford) - Starworks - 38
29 - Curran-Said (Corvette Z06) - Marsh - 21

Fastest lap of the race 2'01"252, by Sébastien Bourdais   

DP championship
1. Popow-Dalziel 246; 2. Gurney-Fogarty 242; 3. Christian Fittipaldi 239; 4. Joao Barbosa 237; 6. Angelelli-Taylor 234; 7.Rojas-Pruett 232.

GT championship
1. Lally-Potter 255; 2. Edwards-Liddell 248; 3. Alessandro Balzan 244; 4. Lazzaro-Assentato, Dalla Lana 239.

Watkins Glen pole winner, Marcos Ambrose, feels the pressure unlike any other of his NASCAR Sprint Cup rivals.

Even though Ambrose won the pole at a record speed of at 128.241 mph in a Ford it was only his first at Watkins Glen, first of the year and third in his Sprint Cup career.

The pressure exists because it's Ambrose's, the two-time V8 Supercar champion, last road race of the year. And he'd like to leave the upstate New York road circuit as winner for the third year in-a-row.

“It feels great to be here. These days don't come around that often,” Ambrose said. “It was a great lap. It wasn't perfect. It wasn't the cleanest lap I could have done, but it certainly carried a lot of momentum and it was enough to get the job done.   

Photo: MarcosAmbrose.com

“These new Gen-6 race cars are a lot faster around here and the speeds are record speeds.”

The old record belongs to another former road racer, ex-Formula driver Juan Pablo Montoya from Colombia, who toured the old site of the USGP at 127.020 mph last year.

Toyota drivers took the next four spots. Clint Bowyer will start second, Martin Truex Jr. third, A.J. Allmendinger fourth and Kyle Busch fifth.  Jamie McMurray had the fastest Chevrolet and will roll off sixth.

Ambrose's pressure was apparent on Friday when the usually affable Australian uncharacteristically took out his discontent on his Richard Petty Motorsport team.

“I did apologize to my team and that's because I did lose my cool a little bit yesterday.  I was just frustrated with the second practice,” said Ambrose.

“It just didn't feel like we made enough progress and I was just worried for the race and for qualifying.  I know we were fast during the practice, but I just didn't feel like it was feeling right for me.

“They did a good job to calm me down and not overreact to what I was saying and made some small adjustments for today and they've worked out really well, so we were just short on time yesterday.”

Looking ahead to Sunday's race  Ambrose said “I love the area and I like the history of this place.  This place feels like a European race track.

“I've raced a lot in Europe and it's just got that feel to it and the old books I've read and history of all the F1 guys coming here and stuff makes it a pretty special place for me. Some guys have home tracks.

“I obviously don't (...), so when I come to a track like this it actually does feel like the track that I grew up on.  I like racing on these kind of circuits.”

Photo: MarcosAmbrose.com

Audette brothers Rémy and Mathieu each won a race of the Canadian Touring Car Championship (CTCC) presented at the famous Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières, to keep alive their winning streak.

It's the third consecutive CTCC weekend they sweep both wins.

Mathieu, at the wheel of his RSX Type S, won Friday night's race, 3.3 seconds ahead of Bob Attrel's Hyundai Genesis Coupe. Alex Healy completed the podium aboard an Acura RSX Type S of his own.

The second contest, held Sunday, was slowed down by full course cautions.

Mechanical problems forced race 1 winner Mathieu to a DNF in the very first lap, while Healy was collecting former hockey star Marc-André Bergeron from behind. Healy's car suffered the most damage and had to be rescued as it was blocking the track.

Audette leads Audette (Photo: CTCC)

Back to green, Rémy (Honda Civic) was leading ahead of former champion Nick Wittmer (Honda Accord Coupe) and Roger Ledoux (Subaru Impreza WRX STI LP400). But their run for the checkered was interrupted moments later by another incident.

Paul Gravel (MINI Cooper S) had understeered into the wall of turn 2, and bounced back into the path of Jocelyn Fecteau (Scion Tc). Neither driver were hurt, but the safety car had to come back out.

The order when the race resumed had Audette still leading from Wittmer and Ledoux, followed by Marc-André Bergeron and former F1600 champion Nathan Blok.

Two laps from the end, Blok made the most of a small mistake by Bergeron to overtake him in turn 1.

The order at the checkered saw Audette win in front of Wittmer and Ledoux, with Blok and Bergeron completing the top five.

Scott Nicol (Honda Civic Si), Jonathan Rashleigh (Hyundai Genesis Coupe), Bob Attrell, Michel Sallenbach (MINI Cooper S) and Jocelyn Hébert (Honda Civic Si) rounded out the top 10.

The latest Scotiabank Global Auto Report shows that global car sales advanced 4% in the first half of 2013 and will climb to a record high this year.

“We expect continued gains in the second half of the year supported by low short- and long-term interest rates around the world, strengthening global job creation and improving financial market conditions which have propelled several equity market indices to record highs,” said Carlos Gomes, Scotiabank's Senior Economist and Auto Industry Specialist.

Unsurprisingly, China is leading gains in global car sales so far this year with a 20% improvement, while purchases across North America are moving steadily higher with passenger car sales in Canada on target to climb to a record high in 2013.

The market in Western Europe is stabilizing, and Brazil has been a source of strength through the spring, with car sales climbing to record highs through May. However, purchases have recently lost momentum in the face of high inflation and rising interest rates.

Source: Scotiabank

From Formula1.com

The 1966 classic Grand Prix and the recent Senna documentary aside, there have been surprisingly few attempts to convey the essence of F1 racing to cinemagoers. That will be addressed this autumn with the release of Rush. Directed by Ron Howard, the man behind blockbusters such as Apollo 13 and A Beautiful Mind, it tells the tale of the epic duel for the ‘76 drivers' title between Niki Lauda and James Hunt.

Formula1.com spoke to Howard about bringing Formula One racing back to the big screen...

The movie's James Hunt and Niki Lauda (Photo: "Rush" Facebook)

Q: Ron, after almost two years working on Rush, the movie based on the Niki Lauda/James Hunt rivalry of the mid-seventies, how do you see Formula One racing now?

Ron Howard: Now I am a fan! (laughs) I am watching, I am very curious. Before I also watched Formula One, but I watch it differently now. Before I used to watch the start, then got occupied with something else, then checked back once in a while to see who is leading, and watched the finish. Otherwise my mind would wander somewhere else. Now, when I watch a race I can't even get up to go to the toilet. Now I stay glued to the action - because now I understand it well enough.

Ron Howard and actor Chris Hemsworth, who plays James Hunt (Photo: "Rush" Facebok)

Q: What's your idea about racing drivers after getting so involved with the lives of Niki Lauda and James Hunt? Are they heroes or madmen?

RH: Ha, I think it still takes a lot of courage to test yourself in that way. It is not only the risk of death or serious injury - although that still exists in their minds - but it is also the fear of failure that is sometimes more important to men than anything else. They are testing themselves constantly and they are willing to subject themselves in the most public way. You can say that about a lot of athletes, but it is a bit like golf and tennis: they are out there alone - even if they have a team behind them. So you could argue that they are half heroes and half madmen - but for sure one hundred percent world-class athletes.

Ron Howard with actor Daniel Brühl, who plays Lauda (Photo: "Rush" Facebook)

Q: The last big Hollywood blockbuster about Formula One racing was John Frankenheimer's film Grand Prix in 1966. Why did it take almost 50 years for another Hollywood director to get interested in the subject?

RH: Well, John Frankenheimer was able to imbed himself in Formula One of that time and use the spectacle that was naturally occurring, captured it and put it into his movie. Nowadays it is much more difficult and no sport would allow that. There is too much at stake: there are too many sponsors, there are too many rights issues - it is too complicated. That means you have to create everything and that has been too expensive to do - until recently. Now digital technology allows you to use archive footage, create new footage, extend the set digitally, build up the number of cars...

Q: How satisfied are you with the result?

RH: My mantra was: if you know and love Formula One, I hope you feel that and see the sportsmen respected. And if you don't know Formula One, you realize what you've been missing! I hope that's what we have achieved.

Director Ron Howard and cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle on the set of "Rush" (Photo: "Rush" Facebook)

Veteran racer Michel Bonnet won both races of the Formula Tour 1600 series held this weekend at the Grand Prix of Trois-Rivieres.

Bonnet, driving the No. 2 Vector, started both races from pole position and ahead of Thomas McGregor in the No. 93 Spectrum.

Friday's qualifying session for race 1 was red flagged to allow the safety crew to extract Steve McCamus from his car after a big shunt against the wall. Accoring to the latest report, McCamus would be suffering from a broken leg.

In race 1, Bonnet ran away from McGregor and the pair finished in that order. Tristan DeGrand crossed the line in third place ahead of veteran Didier Schraenen and Pascal Bellemare.

In race 2 held Saturday, Bonnet repeated his winning performance, finishing the 22-lap race in first place, 2.8 seconds in front of DeGrand and Chase Pelletier. Pascal Bellemare and Marcel Lafontaine completed the top 5.

Schraenen was en route to third place with half a lap to go when his CMV suddenly stopped in the middle of the race track.

The final race of the season will be held at Circuit Mont-Tremblant, September 21st and 22nd.

Model: 2010 to 2013 Mazda 3

Vehicle Type: Compact sedan or hatchback

The Verdict: The last-generation Mazda3 was loved for its upscale looks, sporty handling and fuel-efficient performance, but test drive your used Mazda3 candidate with an eye for potential clutch and transmission trouble.

Price: Depending on mileage, condition and feature content, shoppers can find a used Mazda3 for as low as $10,000 for a higher-mileage 2010 model, with that figure climbing into the low $20,000 range for a loaded, low-mileage unit. Selection is plentiful in the low- to mid-teens.

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

What Owners Like: Upscale styling, sporty handling dynamics, an upscale cabin, and a pleasant, easy-to-drive character were highly rated by owners of this generation Mazda3. Fuel mileage, especially on models with the SKYACTIV engine, was highly rated, as was versatility on hatchback models.

What Owners Dislike: The grinning front bumper fascia, a small navigation system screen and limited rear-seat space were among the common complaints for this generation of the Mazda3. Others included tire noise, blind spots, and some easily scratched interior panels

Photo: Matthieu Lambert

History/Description: This second-generation Mazda3 advanced the popular model on all fronts and maintained both the sedan and hatchback offerings from the previous generation. Look for 4-cylinder, front-drive architecture all around. Engine choices included 2.0L and 2.5L gas units. Base GS models will have a 5-speed manual or automatic, while 6-speed transmissions in manual or automatic were found elsewhere on higher-end GS or GT models.

Note that from 2012 on, SKYACTIV technology fitted a high-efficiency 2.0L engine option as well.

Photo: Matthieu Lambert

Common Issues: Shoppers considering a model with a manual transmission are strongly advised to check the condition of the clutch on a test drive by “feeling” for any signs of slippage or a “grinding” sensation when shifting gears. Numerous owners reported premature clutch wear, which isn't covered by warranty -- this issue looks most prevalent in 2010 models. This issue may stem from a faulty clutch master cylinder and lead to transmission problems.

Coax slippage from the clutch by applying full throttle at very low revs as a check. If any slippage is noted, move to another model.

A full inspection of the Mazda3's body and paint is also advised, in light of several reports of finishes and panels that are easily dented and paint that's easily chipped.

Check for proper operation of all remote key fobs, remote trunk and hatch release, and all power windows. Some owners reported failure of the Bluetooth module used to link their cell phones, so be sure that's in good working order, too.

Other mandatory feature checks should include: cruise control and all steering-wheel mounted controls.

Some owners note issues with their braking system, particularly relating to a loud “squealing” sound heard when reversing. This sound could be caused by use of a non-Mazda brake pad -- used models affected by this issue should be checked by a mechanic to be safe.

Photo: Matthieu Lambert

Auto123.com Racing provides race fans with a live description of the Trois-Rivieres round of the NASCAR Canadian Tire series.

We will provide live comments and analysis of the action while it happens out on the race track. This race is Round 8 of the season and will count 42 laps of the 1.53mile temporary street course. The start is scheduled at 3:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon.

For technical reasons, the description is provided in both English and French.

Simply click on the box below to access the Live Description.