Auto News 5

From GMM

Despite protestations to the contrary, Sauber's struggle for survival is not over, according to the latest German-language reports.

The Russian rescue deal had appeared back on track on Friday, as teen driver Sergey Sirotkin confirmed rumours he has now signed a race deal for 2014.

But Welt newspaper said the flow of money from Russia has actually been barely more than a trickle.

Reporting from Spa, Bild correspondents Nicola Pohl and Lennart Wermke referred to a promised EUR 22 million injection, in exchange for Sirotkin's race seat.

But the reports said only EUR 3 million actually materialised.

"For Sauber, the situation is dramatic," said Pohl and Wermke.  "The Russian rescue is probably off the table."

However, there are also conflicting reports.  Auto Motor und Sport claims team driver Nico Hulkenberg, who has been waiting to be paid all season, has now received the first instalment.

"We got some money," confirmed his manager Werner Heinz.  "At Sauber things are looking up."

The German report also said Sauber has travelled to Belgium with a new front wing and is tinkering once again with a passive double-DRS system, indicating that funds for technical development are flowing once again.

Auto123.com is sad to report that two Dutch taking part in a demonstration run aboard an historic car died in a crash during the Arena Panzerplatte stage of the Rallye Deutschland, round nine of the World Rally Championship (WRC).

The event organizers issued the following statement:

“It is with great sadness that the organiser can confirm an accident took place this afternoon at the Arena Panzerplatte involving a historic car participating in a non-competitive demonstration programme.

The car, driven by a Dutch pairing, left the route near the Gina crest. The emergency services were on the scene immediately to assist but despite their best efforts the injuries sustained by both the driver and passenger proved fatal. No one else was involved in the incident.

Everyone associated with the event extends their deepest sympathies and condolences to the families, friends and individuals who are being touched by today's terrible tragedy.

The second passage of Arena Panzerplatte has been cancelled and the competition cars have been re-routed back to the Service Park in Trier.

The rally will continue on Sunday according to its itinerary.”

Our best wishes from Auto123.com go to friends and family of the departed.

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton pulled off an impressive fourth consecutive pole position ahead of the 2013 Belgian Grand Prix, with a hugely impressive run on a damp Spa-Francorchamps circuit.

Everyone started Q3 on slicks and tried to take the rain by surprise. But before the queue of cars even crossed the finish line to start a timed lap, the rain got to heavy for dry tires. Only Force India's Paul di Resta, wasn't caught out, because he already had intermediates on.

The Scot banged in a fast lap, which seemed unbeatable because the intensifying rain was only making the track worse. Even Felipe Massa (Ferrari) who went out only minutes after Di Resta couldn't match his pace.

With every car that got by, the lap times were increasing, but only until Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) ripped a fast one to get ahead of Massa.

Unfortunately for Di Resta, the rain eased off and the conditions improved slightly, which allowed Rosberg, and the two Red Bull drivers Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel, who had enough time left for a second lap, to get one up on him.

When Vettel crossed the line, pole position seemed in the bag.

But Hamilton was still on a flying lap, which turned out sufficiently faster to edge his German rival in the title hunt.

Earlier in the day, during the dry free practice session, Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) managed to split Vettel and Red Bull at the top of the timing sheets. Jean-Éric Vergne (Toro-Rosso) clocked an impressive fourth fastest lap ahead of Massa.

The Spaniard settled for ninth in qualifying, ahead of Massa in 10th. Vergne got caught out in Q1, and left 19th, he too ahead of his teammate Daniel Ricciardo, in 20th.

By playing the conditions rights, both Caterham's Giedo van der Garde and both Marussia drivers Max Chilton and Jules Bianchi moved into Q2, placing 14th, 15th and 16th respectively.

Qualifying results* - Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium)
1.Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W04) - 2'01"012 - Q3
2.Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 2'01"200 - Q3
3.Mark Webber (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 2'01"325 - Q3
4.Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W04) - 2'02"251 - Q3
5.Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 2'02"332 - Q3
6.Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 2'03"075 - Q
7.Romain Grosjean (Lotus E21-Renault) - 2'03"081 - Q3
8.Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E21-Renault) - 2'03"390 - Q3
9.Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F138) - 2'03"482 - Q3
10.Felipe Massa (Ferrari F138) - 2'04"059 - Q3
11.Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'49"088 - Q2
12.Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'49"103 - Q2
13.Sergio Perez (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'49"304 - Q2
14.Giedo Van der Garde (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'52"036 - Q2
15.Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'52"563 - Q2
16.Max Chilton (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'52"762 - Q2
17.Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW35-Renault) - 2'03"072 - Q1
18,Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 2'03"300 - Q1
19.Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 2'03"317 - Q1
20.Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW35-Renault) - 2'03"432 - Q1
21.Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 2'04"324 - Q1
22.Charles Pic (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 2'07"384 - Q1

Free practice 3 results* - Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium)
1.Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'48"327 - 16 laps
2.Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F138) - 1'48”432 - 14
3.Mark Webber (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'48"533 - 16
4.Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'48"776 - 15
5.Felipe Massa (Ferrari F138) - 1'48"788 - 15
6.Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'48"882 - 13
7.Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'48"930 - 18
8.Romain Grosjean (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'48"967 - 14
9.Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W04) - 1'48"993 - 16
10.Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'49"008 - 17
11.Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'49"035 - 15
12.Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W04) - 1'49"046 - 17
13.Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'49"122 - 15
14.Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'49"177 - 15
15.Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'49"226 - 14
16.Sergio Perez (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'49"417 - 14
17.Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'49"478 - 19
18.Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'50"418 - 14
19.Charles Pic (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'51"416 - 15
21.Giedo Van der Garde (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'51"800 - 18
22.Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'52"221 - 17
23.Max Chilton (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'53"507 - 18

*Unofficial timing

Citroën's Dani Sordo ended Saturday as the new leader of the Germany Rally, round nine of the 2013 Word Rally Championship (WRC).

Former leader Jari-Matti Latvala (Volkswagen) had to throw in the towel after stage 12, where he slipped off the road, and broke a disc brake.

Second-place Thierry Neuville (Ford) went off at the same place, but escaped terminal damage, instead getting away with only a damaged exhaust. The Belgian was slowed down but could still press on.

Sordo therefore leads Neuville at the end of day two, but by only eighth tenths of a second. Sordo's teammate Mikko Hirvonen holds on to third place.

Aboard is Citroën DS3 RRC, Robert Kubica is leading in WRC2 and maintaining himself in the top five overall, ahead of Elfyn Evans (Ford), who is fighting the Pole for the class win.

Latvala will be allowed to take part in Sunday's remaining two stages thanks to Rally2 regulations.

Dani Sordo, Citroën DS3 WRC (Photo: Citroën Racing)

Provisional standings - Rallye Deutschland (WRC)
1. Sordo-Del Barrio (Citroen DS3 Wrc) in 2.43'48”5
2. Neuville-Gilsoul (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) a 0”8
3. Hirvonen-Lehtinen (Citroen DS3 Wrc) a 1'27”6
4. Prokop-Ernst (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) a 6'06”3
5. Kubica-Baran (Citroen DS3 Rrc) a 7'33”1
6. Evans-Barritt (Ford Fiesta RS R5) a 7'40”9
7. Latvala-Anttila (VW Polo Wrc) a 9'27”0
8. Paddon-Kennard (Skoda Fabia S2000) a 10'37"3
9. Ostberg-Andersson (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) a 12'27”8
10. Novikov-Minor (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) a 14'08”1

Adapted from GMM

Kimi Raikkonen on Friday said he is unwilling to even talk with Lotus about 2014 until certain issues are cleared up.

"They (Lotus) know exactly what they have to do first, and then we are open to talk," he said.

Undoubtedly, the inimitable and unforthcoming Raikkonen was uncomfortable and annoyed as the media spotlight burned brightly. But he did little to assuage suspicions his Thursday illness was a form of boycott because Lotus is behind on paying him.

"Yeah, fine," he said when reporters asked if he had returned to health.

"There's always reasons for things.  I don't have to tell."

Meanwhile, team owner Gerard Lopez was playing down reports of financial strife at Lotus.

Reportedly in debt to the tune of EUR 120 million and with the new Infinity Racing investment in doubt, Lopez insisted at Spa-Francorchamps that Lotus is in fact in good health.

Indeed, some believe the team's debt is actually just 28 million.

Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus E21 (Photo: WRi2)

"It is 120 million," Lopez confirmed to Auto Motor und Sport, "but four-fifths of it we owe to ourselves, to Genii, because we do not sponsor the team but finance it through loans."

He said, therefore, that Genii is not going to urgently demand Lotus pay it back.

"First of all I want to ensure that the team continues to be well funded.  Whether we get the money back now or later, we have to see.

"We continue to look for partners to join the team.  It's not about getting money back quickly now."

Lopez insisted that is precisely why Lotus does not have a title sponsor at the moment.

"We could have signed a cheap contract," he said.  "But we think from the performance point of view, we need a sponsor who pays really well.

"We don't want to sign something now for three, four, five years that we will regret later."

Hyundai is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its Canadian adventure and has created a special consumer-accessible website for the occasion. The website allows users to retrace the highlights of Hyundai Canada's accomplishments as well as the chance to win a 2013 Veloster with Tech Package and EcoShift DCT transmission.

"Hyundai has always boldly forged ahead. The fact that it was firmly established in the Canadian market only 16 years after being founded and a full three years before conquering the American market is indicative of its accomplishments. It was an audacious endeavor, but dreaming big has always been part of who we are as a company,'' explains Steve Kelleher, Hyundai Auto Canada Corp President & CEO.

Go to www.hyundai30years.ca to visit the Hyundai anniversary website.

While this weekend's Swedish car gathering at Larz Anderson Auto Museum has little chance of beating Carlisle Import Nationals'

While this weekend's Swedish car gathering at Larz Anderson Auto Museum has little chance of beating Carlisle Import Nationals'

While this weekend's Swedish car gathering at Larz Anderson Auto Museum has little chance of beating Carlisle Import Nationals'

While this weekend's Swedish car gathering at Larz Anderson Auto Museum has little chance of beating Carlisle Import Nationals'

While this weekend's Swedish car gathering at Larz Anderson Auto Museum has little chance of beating Carlisle Import Nationals'

While this weekend's Swedish car gathering at Larz Anderson Auto Museum has little chance of beating Carlisle Import Nationals'

While this weekend's Swedish car gathering at Larz Anderson Auto Museum has little chance of beating Carlisle Import Nationals'

The Chevy Corvair, best known for its air-cooled, rear-engine layout and being and#8220;

The Chevy Corvair, best known for its air-cooled, rear-engine layout and being and#8220;

The Chevy Corvair, best known for its air-cooled, rear-engine layout and being and#8220;

The Chevy Corvair, best known for its air-cooled, rear-engine layout and being and#8220;

The Chevy Corvair, best known for its air-cooled, rear-engine layout and being and#8220;

The Chevy Corvair, best known for its air-cooled, rear-engine layout and being and#8220;

The Chevy Corvair, best known for its air-cooled, rear-engine layout and being and#8220;