Auto News 5

Transport Canada has announced the recall of 3246 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe and 384 2014 Kia Sorento crossovers. On certain FWD vehicles equipped with a 2.4L engine, the passenger side axle shaft could fail. This could result in a loss of vehicle propulsion which could increase the risk of a crash or allow the vehicle to roll away if parked on a slope, despite the transmission shift lever being set in the PARK position.

Dealers will replace the right front axle-shaft assembly.

Source: Transport Canada

2013 Hyundai Sante Fe XL (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

2014 Kia Sorento (Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre)

From Race of Champions

Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher is the first driver in the line-up for the 2013 Race Of Champions at Bangkok's Rajamangala Stadium on the weekend of December 14-15.

The end-of-season contest, held every year since 1988, brings together the world's greatest drivers from motor sport's main disciplines - including Formula 1, world rally, touring cars, Le Mans, MotoGP, IndyCar and the X-Games - and sets them free to battle head-to-head in identical machinery.

Schumacher has more titles (7), wins (91) and pole positions (68) than anyone else in the history of Formula 1.

Michael Schumacher celebrates with Sebastian Vettel (Photo: RaceOfChampions.com)

The German retired from full-time competition at the end of 2012 but he also has a mighty record at the Race Of Champions, having partnered reigning F1 world champion and compatriot Sebastian Vettel to ROC Nations Cup glory in each of the last six years. To rub it in, the pair won ten races out of ten en route to victory last December.



The Race Of Champions brings together stars from all over the world - and the rest of this year's line-up will be announced in the run-up to December's event.

Along with Schumacher and Vettel's total of ten Formula 1 world championships, the 2012 field featured a haul of seven MotoGP championships courtesy of Jorge Lorenzo and Mick Doohan, plus greats from Le Mans (Tom Kristensen), touring cars (Andy Priaulx), IndyCar (Ryan Hunter-Reay), V8 Supercars (Jamie Whincup) and more.

Volkswagen has released the first pictures of its all-new Golf R, which will be unveiled on September 10th at the Frankfurt Auto Show. Equipped with a 2.0 litre turbocharged engine producing 296 hp, it can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 5.3 seconds, or 4.9 seconds when equipped with the DSG transmission. The electronically-limited top-speed is 249 km/h (155 mph).

The new Golf R has fuel economy ratings of 7.1L/100 km as per European testing, and consumes 6.9L/100 km when equipped with stop/start function, regenerative braking and DSG transmission. First deliveries will commence at the end of 2013, but Canadian availability has not yet been published. If past trends are an indicator, few units will make it to Canadian shores.

Photo: Volkswagen

On August 1, we announced that Ford was modifying the 2014 F-150, to run on natural gas, to be introduced to the US market. Last week, the manufacturer confirmed that the model would also be sold in Canada in the fall.

Equipped with a 3.7-litre V6 engine, the 2014 F-150 can be modified to run on natural gas for an average cost of $7,500 to $9,000 USD.

“Businesses and fleet customers have been asking Ford to make the F-150 available with CNG capability to take advantage of this fuel's low price and clean emissions,” said Jon Coleman, Ford fleet sustainability and technology manager.

Over the next year, Ford will offer eight other natural gas fueled models along with the pickup:

• Transit Connect (multiple versions)
• Transit (multiple versions)
• E-Series (multiple versions)
• F-Series Super Duty pickups
• F-350, F-450 and F-550 chassis cab
• F-650 stripped chassis
• F53 and F59 stripped chassis
• 2014 F-150

Photo: Ford

Nissan has announced that its latest generation of Titan pickups will be equipped with the new Cummins V8 5.0-litre Turbo Diesel engine. Nissan and Cummins collaborated on the development of this most recent powertrain.

Presently in its final stages of development, these engines, with over 300 HP, will be more powerful than those offered with the current model. The V8's towing capacity and mileage will rival any North American-built truck.

“We are very excited to partner with Nissan on the introduction of a Cummins V8 5.0L Turbo Diesel to the North American pickup truck market,” said Dave Crompton, Vice President, Cummins Engine Business. “This new engine will offer the right balance of power, performance and fuel economy while delivering the dependability that a customer expects of a Cummins engine. This will be a great package.”

Nissan has not yet specified the date of the engine's release on the market.

Photo: Nissan

From Williams

British engineer Pat Symonds, who started his Formula 1 career in 1982 with the small Toleman team and worked alongside a young rookie called Ayrton Senna, has recently been appointed chief technical officer of the Williams F1 Team.

What does this new challenge entail?

“Firstly, I think it's a great team. The facilities are top class, we have a huge number of talented people and yet the results on the track are not a reflection of the quality we have. So I think my challenge is to analyse why this is happening, make the changes that are needed to empower the people and really get the focus in one direction: performance”, said Symonds.

“I was reminded the other day, by a good friend, that many years ago when I was at Renault I was quoted as saying that the only other team in Formula 1 that I would work for was Williams”, Symonds added.

“Frank (Williams) has always been a fierce competitor but one that always competes with a lot of honour and dignity. Sometimes I beat him, sometimes I lost to him but I always had the utmost respect for him. I'm really thrilled that now we can combine our efforts to beat our competitors,” he continued.

Photo: Williams F1 Team

Symonds was the track engineer of Ayrton Senna when he started in Formula 1 in 1984. But Symonds has worked with other fantastic drivers.

“Indeed. I've worked with many outstanding drivers from Senna, Schumacher, and Alonso but if I had to pick one, I do have a special place for Michael (Schumacher). He is obviously a super talent, he very much thinks like an engineer and yet he's also a really great person, so I definitely have a soft spot for him,” the Briton said.

Coming into the team at this stage, can he make a difference this season or will he focus be on next year?

“There are developments going on for the remainder of this season. We have new parts coming to races as far out as Korea and beyond,” he said.

“They are not things I've had influence on but I can see them in the development programme. I hope we can look at some smaller details from the wind tunnel to improve things over the coming races and I'll be looking at the operational side too. Fundamentality focus has to be much more towards 2014 as it's an immensely difficult programme, the most difficult we have had to tackle for a long while.

“The FW36 is well underway and I think it's important I get my influence onto that. However, my influence will be much more on process rather than detail, so I hope that pays off and leads to the sort of structure that can lead to on-going success for the team,” he ended.

The Tesla Model S has not only received an overall 5.4 Star rating, it has received top ratings in every category, without exception. Ratings above 5 are not released by the NHTSA, but they are sent directly to the manufacturer. Approximately 1% of vehicles have received such high ratings.

The Model S beats out every U.S. built vehicle, SUV's and minivans included, in lateral, front and rear, and rollover testing. In the latter case, the low center of gravity created by the floor-mounted bank of batteries makes the Model S extremely stable, enough so in fact as to force the testing engineers to get creative in order to find ways to flip over the car.

Tesla performed its own crash tests based on the NHTSA tests in order to find some of the weaker points of the Model S. The manufacturer then proceeded to improve these weaknesses in order to score 5 Star ratings, whatever the challenge.

The Volvo S60, which also achieved a 5 Star rating, retained 7.8% of the driver's residual space in side impact intrusion testing. The Tesla Model S score? 63.5%. What's more, the equipment used to test roof strength failed at 4 g's, which means that a tesla Model S can support four of its kind on its roof without bending the (B) pillar.

The competition better be on their toes, as Tesla is closing in at top speed!

Photo: Tesla

From GMM

Ferrari Formula 1 team has moved to ease the speculation about its 2014 driver lineup.

With the Italian team's number 1 driver Fernando Alonso linked with a sensational switch to Red Bull, the future of teammate Felipe Massa is also uncertain beyond his expiring contract.

And now linked with a return to Maranello is the team's 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen, after the Finn's manager Steve Robertson said talks with Red Bull had ended.

The Raikkonen-to-Ferrari story got a boost in recent days by Eddie Jordan, a former F1 team boss turned broadcaster, who has in recent times earned a reputation for often correctly predicting driver moves.

Some of Jordan's media centre colleagues, however, are not so sure.

Is Kimi Raikkonen heading back to Ferrari? (Photo: WRi2)

In the wake of Robertson ruling out Red Bull for Raikkonen, Lotus boss Eric Boullier hit the headlines this week when he said the 33-year-old will only stay at the Enstone based team in 2014 at the right price.

Livio Oricchio, writing in O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper, said he interprets that news as Boullier revealing "he knows he has the advantage now" in the negotiations with Raikkonen.

Indeed, with the Red Bull door now closed, Robertson went to great lengths to insist Raikkonen still has "plural" options when it comes to 2014.

"The game has turned in Lotus' favour," said the Brazilian correspondent Oricchio.

That is because many in the paddock doubt Ferrari is really considering pairing its clear number 1 Alonso against a truly top driver like Raikkonen.

Raul Romojaro, writing in the Spanish sports daily AS, recalled that in 2007, McLaren's explosive Alonso-Lewis Hamilton pairing ultimately cost the British team the title.

"The only positive of the disaster was that the lesson was learned about how harmful conflicting interests in sports can be," he said.

"I would even say that putting Kimi with Fernando would be a time-bomb with difficult and unpredictable consequences."

Another aspect that speaks against Raikkonen's return is that reports in recent days have suggested Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo is not convinced.

"It would be an admission by him (Montezemolo) that sending Kimi away at the end of 2009 was a huge mistake," noted Rafael Lopes, writing for Brazil's Globo Esporte.

How much longer will Felipe Massa stay at Ferrari? (Photo: WRi2)

So, given the speculation, it is no surprise Stefano Domenicali is playing it all down.

"We have spelt it out many times before," said Ferrari's team boss ahead of this weekend's Belgian grand prix, the first race after the August break.

"The driver topic is definitely not a priority," Domenicali insisted.

"There is much talk outside the company regarding the future, but we must concentrate only on the present, on the fight for the championship," he added.

Domenicali also backed Montezemolo's recent comments, which were interpreted by many as a harsh rebuke of Alonso just as the Red Bull rumours were gaining steam.

"The words of our president before the summer break must serve as a stimulus, because they were meant as the words of a good family father, who, first and foremost, really roots for our team," he said.

From Race of Champions

Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher is the first driver in the line-up for the 2013 Race Of Champions at Bangkok's Rajamangala Stadium on the weekend of December 14-15.

The end-of-season contest, held every year since 1988, brings together the world's greatest drivers from motor sport's main disciplines - including Formula 1, world rally, touring cars, Le Mans, MotoGP, IndyCar and the X-Games - and sets them free to battle head-to-head in identical machinery.

Schumacher has more titles (7), wins (91) and pole positions (68) than anyone else in the history of Formula 1.

Michael Schumacher celebrates with Sebastian Vettel (Photo: RaceOfChampions.com)

The German retired from full-time competition at the end of 2012 but he also has a mighty record at the Race Of Champions, having partnered reigning F1 world champion and compatriot Sebastian Vettel to ROC Nations Cup glory in each of the last six years. To rub it in, the pair won ten races out of ten en route to victory last December.



The Race Of Champions brings together stars from all over the world - and the rest of this year's line-up will be announced in the run-up to December's event.

Along with Schumacher and Vettel's total of ten Formula 1 world championships, the 2012 field featured a haul of seven MotoGP championships courtesy of Jorge Lorenzo and Mick Doohan, plus greats from Le Mans (Tom Kristensen), touring cars (Andy Priaulx), IndyCar (Ryan Hunter-Reay), V8 Supercars (Jamie Whincup) and more.

From VW Motorsport

Volkswagen Motorsport's Andreas Mikkelsen and co-driver Mikko Markkula opted out of this week's Rallye Deutschland for medical reasons.

A medical exam before the start revealed Markkula had two broken vertebras, probably since Rally Finland, three weeks ago.

When Markkula complained of back pain after recce, his team took the decision to withdraw the No. 9 VW Polo R WRC from the event.

"Safety first", reminded VW Motorsport director Jost Capito. "So the team had to withdraw the car. We we're all very sorry, but we wish Mikko a speedy recovery."

Mikko Markkula, Andreas Mikkelsen (VW Motorsport)

From Toyota Tires F1600 Press Office

The Toyo Tires F1600 Championship Series is headed to the beautiful Calabogie Motorsport Park this weekend for the Ted Powell Memorial Race, rounds 9 and 10 of the Championship.

This is the home event for Ottawa, ON resident and series point leader Zach Robichon who has a good lead in the Championship but is now feeling the pressure from Exclusive Autosport's Jack Mitchell, Jr and BGR Team Grote teammate Jesse Lazare.

The trio, joined by rookie Max Hanratty, put on two incredible races at the last event, passing for the lead several times a lap. We can expect much the same at Calabogie this weekend.

Second in A Class points is actually former Champion Shane Jantzi but he will be skipping this event but will be back for the next.

Craig Willis still sits atop the “B” Class Championship points standings but has seen his lead eroded with the form Mike Gayowski has shown, dominating the last event.

Gayowski will not be in attendance this weekend so series rookie Connor Wagland who has been a great addition to the series and has shown some good pace as of late will test Willis.

Amy Castell will be debuting a new ride as she has purchased the impeccably prepared Reynard of Paul Bollenbach, which should help her move further up the grid.

Returning to the series this weekend will be Kieran Murphy and Jean Guy Fournier so the grid should be in excess of 15 cars.

“We are very excited to be heading to Calabogie this weekend,” said Jason Sharpe, promoter for the series. “We have seen some absolutely incredible wheel to wheel racing all throughout the field the last two weekends. The points battles are getting tighter and this is our only trip here this season so it should make for some good battles,” he added.

Cars will hit the track on Friday for a full day of testing and the racing will begin with Round 1 on Saturday and Round 2 on Sunday afternoon.

Ryan Truex, the younger brother of Martin Truex Jr. has been entered into Saturday night's Sprint Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway in the No. 51 Phoenix Racing Chevy SS.

Phoenix Racing helped Truex, the Sonoma Raceway winner who drives for Michael Waltrip Racing, early in his career.

Ryan Truex, a developmental driver of Richard Petty Motorsports, has two Nationwide series starts at Bristol and most recently posted a top-10 finish in the spring event in 2012.  In his career, Truex made 35 Nationwide, three truck and 22 K&N East starts.  He's won Championships in every full season of competition.  He won the K&N Series East Championship back-to-back in 2009 and 2010.

Ryan Truex (Photo: Tyler Barrick/Getty Images for NASCAR)

"I'm excited to make my NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut at Bristol," said Truex.  "It has been tough waiting on the sidelines while I healed from my collarbone injury, but now I am ready to go and make my Sprint Cup Series debut.  It's pretty awesome that it's coming at Bristol at the night race.  This is a premier race on the Sprint Cup circuit.

"To have Richard Petty Motorsports and Phoenix Racing support me in this endeavor really means a lot," continued Truex.  "I'm excited for the rest of this year and my future with RPM."  

"The King" seven-time Sprint Cup Champion, Richard Petty, is also anxious to see the 21-year-old make his Sprint Cup debut.

"It will be a big night for Ryan," said team owner Richard Petty.  "He is a talented driver, and we look forward to his future with our team.  We are working hard to find funding support to give him more opportunities behind the wheel."

From GMM

Amid scepticism of the team's Russian rescue deal, Sergey Sirotkin is in fact already seated at the wheel of a Sauber.

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport on Wednesday published photos of the 17-year-old Russian driver having a seat fitted for the 2013 car at Sauber's Swiss factory.

Sirotkin is central to Sauber's future, thanks to his crucial link to Russian government-linked entities that could deliver millions to the cash-strapped team.

But at present he lacks the mandatory FIA super license, meaning he cannot appear for example during Friday practice sessions at grands prix this year.

Auto Motor und Sport correspondent Tobias Gruner, however, reports that Sirotkin is scheduled to drive the 2013 Sauber at a demonstration run next month in Sochi, the scene of next year's inaugural Russian grand prix.

The youngster turns 18 next Tuesday.

From GMM

McLaren Formula 1 team has conceded it will probably chalk up a rare and unwanted statistic in 2013.

Not often does the great British team go an entire season without winning a single race, but managing director Jonathan Neale thinks that is likely this year.

Jenson Button won commandingly from pole in Belgium a year ago, but the 2009 world champion admitted this week that he is not returning to Spa "with the package to win".

And Neale told reporters during a Vodafone teleconference on Wednesday that the MP4-28 will probably go to the other eight races this year with the same slim chances.

Sergio Pérez, McLaren MP4-28 (Photo: WRi2)

Asked if the 2013 car will win a race this season, he said: "I think that will be a real challenge if I'm honest."

Neale said development of the MP4-28 has stopped, unless something is found that could also benefit the 2014 programme.

"There's four months to the end of the year and a lot of work to be done to get ready for next year," he added.

"So I think, inevitably, there will start to be an increasing focus on 2014."

Anti-climactic
Where to begin? As an enthusiast, I'm a fan of Mini and MINI products. I'm also a lover of wagon-like cars, crave AWD and just about anything with a good dose of power, performance and handling. Enter contestant No.1: the 2013 MINI John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4! A longer-named, sexier-looking, more-promising car, I'd not seen...

My anticipation was palpable. I was truly salivating at the thought of a week with this car. Seriously, I'd not been this excited about test-driving a car since the Golf R. Whereas the Golf blew my mind the MINI deflated my bubble in the saddest and wheeziest of ways.

The final experience is this: The John Cooper Works Countryman is damn fine to look at and loves to be pushed hard, but the 6-speed autobox is a crying shame, and the Countryman's added girth robs John Cooper from truly shinning.


What is a MINI John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4?
First, John Cooper Works is the optimum name in factory tuning when it comes to all MINIs. This shop's expertise goes way back. The current company belongs to BMW, as does MINI.

The 2013 MINI John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4 is the biggest, nearly most expensive MINI one can purchase, and it served as the base for MINI's return to the WRC (which sadly only lasted a year).

The Countryman is as close to a CUV as the brand has come since its rebirth nearly 15 years ago.

John Cooper Works is the optimum name in factory tuning when it comes to all MINIs. This shop's expertise goes way back. (Photo: Colin Styker)

Technicalities
The 2013 MINI John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4 is powered by a turbocharged 1.6L 4-cylinder engine. In all JCWs (save for the GP), it produces 208 hp. Torque numbers for the Countryman are 192 lb-ft with an overboost function that adds a further 15 lbs.

Transmission choices are a must-select 6-speed manual and a doesn't-belong 6-speed auto with ghastly flappy paddles. As the ALL4 tag suggests, this JCW is equipped with AWD.

The 2013 MINI John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4 starts at $38,500. My as-tested unit retailed for a whopping $48,695, which included the Sound, Premium, and Wired packages.

The Countryman ALL4 is powered by a turbocharged 1.6L 4-cylinder engine. In all JCWs (save for the GP), it produces 208 hp. (Photo: Colin Styker)

Driving the MINI John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4
First: The optional $1,300 automatic transmission should not be offered in the first place. I do understand it improves the take rate... Mr. Cooper himself would probably roll over in his grave knowing it were available. However wrong I think this is I cannot fault the box itself. It'll rev-match, shift, hold gears, and play along. Although, the paddles are straight from BMW's 2003 spare-parts bin. The buttons do both up- and downshifts; a big no-no in this car.

Next up: The 2013 MINI John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4 is fat -- real fat. At 1,480 kg (3,256 lbs), the Countryman tips the scale at a monstrous 270 kg (594 pounds!!!) over the “basic” JCW MINI.

This massive avoirdupois is immediately felt. The John Cooper Works Countryman still carves apexes with supreme precision through an electric steering system that responds telepathically to the driver's whims. The difference between the JCW Countryman and the JCW I drove a few years ago is how fast the car can intelligently enter a corner. The Countryman wants, but like a fat dog, it can't keep up... At least its brakes are up to snuff.

The weight also affects off-the-line acceleration, but (mercifully) the autobox doesn't. Seven seconds are required to hit 100 km/h on the way to a 205 km/h top speed. Passing is quickly dispensed with, but the leopard-like reflexes of what I've come to know as a MINI JCW are diluted and muffled under girth.

What JCW should have done here is endow the Countryman with a larger engine or more boost for more power to offset the weight.

The paddles are straight from BMW's 2003 spare-parts bin. The buttons do both up- and downshifts; a big no-no in this car. (Photo: Colin Styker)

Inside and out of the MINI John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4
I can best describe the experience with this car as going out with a dolled-up Alison Brie and only getting a peck on the cheek while holding her hand, and not being able to round third base and go home...

With the available, sick 19” Cross Spoke Crusher wheels, Oxford green paint job, and black sport stripes, this JCW is the hottest I've come across. Unfortunately, I didn't get to go to bed with her either, if you know what I mean.

The cabin is swank, rank with carbon-black leather with red stitching, and chili-red interior trim. The seats offer fair support and are comfortable. The rear bench is good for two adults, and the trunk is a good size.

The seats offer fair support and are comfortable. (Photo: Colin Styker)

Comparing the MINI John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4
I get that MINI has gone where no other Mini has gone before, and that's fine. However, I think the JCW moniker should remain reserved for cars that deserve these coveted letters.

For the price, the 2013 MINI John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4 lines up with the likes of the Subaru Impreza WRX and STI, and the Volkswagen Golf R. These cars more powerful and priced equally or cheaper and, although the JCW might be exclusive, you won't find thousands of Rs or STIs on the road, either...

Volkswagen has released the first pictures of its all-new Golf R, which will be unveiled on September 10th at the Frankfurt Auto Show. Equipped with a 2.0 litre turbocharged engine producing 296 hp, it can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 5.3 seconds, or 4.9 seconds when equipped with the DSG transmission. The electronically-limited top-speed is 249 km/h (155 mph).

The new Golf R has fuel economy ratings of 7.1L/100 km as per European testing, and consumes 6.9L/100 km when equipped with stop/start function, regenerative braking and DSG transmission. First deliveries will commence at the end of 2013, but Canadian availability has not yet been published. If past trends are an indicator, few units will make it to Canadian shores.

Photo: Volkswagen

We've all seen the bumper stickers and rear window decals: “It's not just a boy's game,” “Not my boyfriend's ride,” and the like, and I've come to realize it's not just a joke.

As a woman in the automotive world, I used to stick out like a sore thumb. Short, blonde, with glasses and the face of a perpetual 16-year-old, I've received a lot of raised eyebrows and snorts of dismissal from the men in my industry over the years. While they've now come to terms with my presence at track events and behind the wheel of 500+ horsepower vehicles, it took some serious time... and a hard skin on my part.

The fact is I'm no longer an abnormality. The allure of being a woman in the auto industry -- and I'm not talking about the “car girls” you see at auto shows wearing next to nothing and posing for pictures -- is strong amongst my generation (and younger) of women currently out there on the road.


I pride myself on being pretty up-to-date in the online automotive world, but it's only recently that I've discovered a massive all-female online community known as Pretty Little Drivers. With no requirements other than female body parts and a love of everything automotive, this international online community is a thousand strong on Facebook and has nearly 5,000 followers on Instagram (and they're growing daily). The interesting part? They only came into existence about three months ago, and their only form of advertising is word-of-mouth on the World Wide Web. Impressive? You bet.

As a new member of the group, I see daily photos posted by women who are proud of their cars and want to show them off. From base Civics to highly modified Nissan Skylines and jacked up pickup trucks, these girls drive everything and anything. I also read posts about car modification, mechanical issues/questions, upgrades, driving impressions, and general appreciation for their cars. It just warms my heart.

Even the bright pink VW Beetle with the fake headlight lashes, flowers on the dash and fuzzy pink dice makes me smile because the owner is so in love with her car and has gone to great lengths to make her “Betsy Beetle” look the way she does. Passion is passion, no matter how you look at it.

What does it all mean? Is it suddenly cool to be a woman in the automotive world like it was cool to be on the South Beach diet or to sport leg warmers and mullets? I don't think that's the case, but I do think it's not as frowned upon. Women are feeling more confident about “coming out” with their love for cars. We feel more secure in our automotive knowledge as it is that much more accessible now; we can be self-sufficient, self-taught, when it comes to cars.

I'm sure there are lots of state-specific groups like Pretty Little Drivers, and that's pretty amazing, too. I feel like this is so much more than a trend. With the possibility of a woman racing in F1, and girls like Maria Soklis as CEO of Kia, we're rising up behind the wheel and really making our mark on an industry previously “reserved” for the male of the species.

I'm trying not to be all rah-rah-women here, but screw it: Go us! In a way it's kind of sad that we have to prove ourselves the way we do in this industry, but at the same time I'm glad we are. We've been part of a horrible stereotype for far too long now, and it's women like the Pretty Little Drivers and IHeartCarGirls who are helping break that mould we've all been shoved into.

It really isn't just a boy's game, but we're happy to play nicely with them... if they behave themselves.

From GMM

Ferrari Formula 1 team has moved to ease the speculation about its 2014 driver lineup.

With the Italian team's number 1 driver Fernando Alonso linked with a sensational switch to Red Bull, the future of teammate Felipe Massa is also uncertain beyond his expiring contract.

And now linked with a return to Maranello is the team's 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen, after the Finn's manager Steve Robertson said talks with Red Bull had ended.

The Raikkonen-to-Ferrari story got a boost in recent days by Eddie Jordan, a former F1 team boss turned broadcaster, who has in recent times earned a reputation for often correctly predicting driver moves.

Some of Jordan's media centre colleagues, however, are not so sure.

Is Kimi Raikkonen heading back to Ferrari? (Photo: WRi2)

In the wake of Robertson ruling out Red Bull for Raikkonen, Lotus boss Eric Boullier hit the headlines this week when he said the 33-year-old will only stay at the Enstone based team in 2014 at the right price.

Livio Oricchio, writing in O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper, said he interprets that news as Boullier revealing "he knows he has the advantage now" in the negotiations with Raikkonen.

Indeed, with the Red Bull door now closed, Robertson went to great lengths to insist Raikkonen still has "plural" options when it comes to 2014.

"The game has turned in Lotus' favour," said the Brazilian correspondent Oricchio.

That is because many in the paddock doubt Ferrari is really considering pairing its clear number 1 Alonso against a truly top driver like Raikkonen.

Raul Romojaro, writing in the Spanish sports daily AS, recalled that in 2007, McLaren's explosive Alonso-Lewis Hamilton pairing ultimately cost the British team the title.

"The only positive of the disaster was that the lesson was learned about how harmful conflicting interests in sports can be," he said.

"I would even say that putting Kimi with Fernando would be a time-bomb with difficult and unpredictable consequences."

Another aspect that speaks against Raikkonen's return is that reports in recent days have suggested Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo is not convinced.

"It would be an admission by him (Montezemolo) that sending Kimi away at the end of 2009 was a huge mistake," noted Rafael Lopes, writing for Brazil's Globo Esporte.

How much longer will Felipe Massa stay at Ferrari? (Photo: WRi2)

So, given the speculation, it is no surprise Stefano Domenicali is playing it all down.

"We have spelt it out many times before," said Ferrari's team boss ahead of this weekend's Belgian grand prix, the first race after the August break.

"The driver topic is definitely not a priority," Domenicali insisted.

"There is much talk outside the company regarding the future, but we must concentrate only on the present, on the fight for the championship," he added.

Domenicali also backed Montezemolo's recent comments, which were interpreted by many as a harsh rebuke of Alonso just as the Red Bull rumours were gaining steam.

"The words of our president before the summer break must serve as a stimulus, because they were meant as the words of a good family father, who, first and foremost, really roots for our team," he said.

Transport Canada has announced the recall of 3246 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe and 384 2014 Kia Sorento crossovers. On certain FWD vehicles equipped with a 2.4L engine, the passenger side axle shaft could fail. This could result in a loss of vehicle propulsion which could increase the risk of a crash or allow the vehicle to roll away if parked on a slope, despite the transmission shift lever being set in the PARK position.

Dealers will replace the right front axle-shaft assembly.

Source: Transport Canada

2013 Hyundai Sante Fe XL (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

2014 Kia Sorento (Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre)

From Williams

British engineer Pat Symonds, who started his Formula 1 career in 1982 with the small Toleman team and worked alongside a young rookie called Ayrton Senna, has recently been appointed chief technical officer of the Williams F1 Team.

What does this new challenge entail?

“Firstly, I think it's a great team. The facilities are top class, we have a huge number of talented people and yet the results on the track are not a reflection of the quality we have. So I think my challenge is to analyse why this is happening, make the changes that are needed to empower the people and really get the focus in one direction: performance”, said Symonds.

“I was reminded the other day, by a good friend, that many years ago when I was at Renault I was quoted as saying that the only other team in Formula 1 that I would work for was Williams”, Symonds added.

“Frank (Williams) has always been a fierce competitor but one that always competes with a lot of honour and dignity. Sometimes I beat him, sometimes I lost to him but I always had the utmost respect for him. I'm really thrilled that now we can combine our efforts to beat our competitors,” he continued.

Photo: Williams F1 Team

Symonds was the track engineer of Ayrton Senna when he started in Formula 1 in 1984. But Symonds has worked with other fantastic drivers.

“Indeed. I've worked with many outstanding drivers from Senna, Schumacher, and Alonso but if I had to pick one, I do have a special place for Michael (Schumacher). He is obviously a super talent, he very much thinks like an engineer and yet he's also a really great person, so I definitely have a soft spot for him,” the Briton said.

Coming into the team at this stage, can he make a difference this season or will he focus be on next year?

“There are developments going on for the remainder of this season. We have new parts coming to races as far out as Korea and beyond,” he said.

“They are not things I've had influence on but I can see them in the development programme. I hope we can look at some smaller details from the wind tunnel to improve things over the coming races and I'll be looking at the operational side too. Fundamentality focus has to be much more towards 2014 as it's an immensely difficult programme, the most difficult we have had to tackle for a long while.

“The FW36 is well underway and I think it's important I get my influence onto that. However, my influence will be much more on process rather than detail, so I hope that pays off and leads to the sort of structure that can lead to on-going success for the team,” he ended.