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From GMM

F1 veteran Gerhard Berger thinks it is possible Sebastian Vettel will break Michael Schumacher's records.

Not too long ago, former F1 driver and team co-owner Berger was among those who regarded Schumacher's title and victory records as near-unassailable.

The great Austrian has changed his mind.

"Sebastian can break Michael Schumacher's records," he told Servus TV, referring to Schumacher's huge tally of seven titles and 91 wins.

"He is quite clearly already in that direction, and I think he will do it," said Berger, who was Vettel's team boss at Toro Rosso when the German won his first race in 2008.

"He's not even 30 and he's already a four-time world champion," said Berger, who obviously assumes Vettel will convert his points lead into a fourth consecutive drivers' title this season.

"This (Vettel's career success so far) is really incredible," Berger added.

Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher, Brazil 2012. (Photo: WRi2)

Indeed, even Toto Wolff - Mercedes' competition boss - thinks Vettel could continue his run of form into 2014.

Bernie Ecclestone said recently that the huge rules shake-up could produce a different winner next year, but Wolff is quoted by the Telegraph: "The performance is being driven by people, and with people staying where they are in the top teams, I don't see there will be a big swing in the balance of power."

From GMM

Antonio Felix da Costa is set to be announced as Daniel Ricciardo's successor at Toro Rosso for 2014.

That is the claim of Livio Oricchio, the respected F1 correspondent for Brazil's O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper, who was at Paul Ricard at the weekend for the latest Formula Renault 3.5 series race.

He wrote: "Only the official announcement is missing, but that should happen in the coming days."

Portuguese da Costa, 22, had suffered a performance dip earlier this season, but he won in France, and also last time out in Hungary.

"Today was an important day for me," he told Oricchio.

"I received a message from (Toro Rosso boss) Franz Tost, congratulating me for the result," da Costa also revealed.

Antonio Felix da Costa. (Photo: Renault)

The ultimate decision, however, will probably be made by Red Bull's driver manager, Helmut Marko.

"I think Dr Marko will be very happy for me to drive in formula one," said da Costa. "But the contract we signed last year is that he can put me wherever he wants. I like him (Marko) very much -- a hard man, but what you see is what you get."

Antonio Felix da Costa will now return to Red Bull's Milton-Keynes headquarters, to play an important role for the forthcoming Korea-Japan double header.

"I will be performing simulations (in the driver simulator) at dawn," he smiled.

Ahead of da Costa in the Formula Renault 3.5 standings, however, are the McLaren-backed Kevin Magnussen and Stoffel Vandoorne.

"All three of them, Magnussen, Vandoorne and da Costa, are very good drivers," quadruple world champion Alain Prost told Eurosport.

"But in my opinion, Magnussen should win the championship," he added, referring to the 20-year-old Danish son of former F1 driver Jan.

From GMM

Sergey Sirotkin's push to become the next Sauber driver is now underway.

Officially, the Russian's debut was on Friday, when he demonstrated Sauber's 2013 car along a 700 metre asphalted stretch of the new Sochi circuit.

"These were my first metres in a formula one car, which obviously is something very special," said the teenager.

But some publications, including Spain's El Mundo Deportivo, report that the 18-year-old's actual debut was over two days recently at the Vairano track in Italy.

And Sirotkin has told Russia's f1news.ru that his next outings will be at the wheel of a Ferrari - who is Sauber's engine supplier - at the fabled Italian marque's Fiorano circuit.

It is there that he will push to secure his F1 super license.

"Actually, it's only a formality," he said. "We have two days to show race pace over 300 kilometres. I take it very seriously, but I'm not afraid of it. I believe that I can do it."

Ferrari 150 Italia from 2011. (Photo: WRi2)

Asked to confirm if it will be a Ferrari he will be driving, Sirotkin confirmed: "Yes. The first tests will be at Fiorano."

He was speaking on Friday in Russia, whereas he should have been qualifying for the Formula Renault 3.5 event in France.

"Yes, we decided that Sochi was the priority," said Sirotkin, who missed the first race at Paul Ricard but did race on Sunday.

As for who his Sauber teammate in 2014 will be, team boss Monisha Kaltenborn has all but admitted that Nico Hulkenberg is heading elsewhere.

"Drivers come, drivers go," she told F1's official website. "Hopefully the team stays and - in our case - remains the fourth oldest."

Perhaps an all-Russian lineup is possible, as former Renault and Caterham driver Vitaly Petrov has admitted his interest.

"Hulkenberg is likely to leave and they are not too happy with Gutierrez," he told Championat.

Kaltenborn, however, denied that Sauber is not happy with rookie Esteban Gutierrez, who is closely linked with the team's Mexican sponsors.

"We will announce our driver lineup, which we always do for one year (at a time), when the time is right," she insisted.

From GMM

Rubens Barrichello's return to formula one could even happen this season.

It emerged late last week that the Brazilian veteran, who lost his Williams seat at the end of 2011, could be a shock contender to race alongside the highly inexperienced Sergey Sirotkin at Sauber next year.

Rubens Barrichello, in Brazil 2011, for his last grand prix. (Photo: WRi2)

But the highly respected Brazilian correspondent Livio Oricchio claims 41-year-old Barrichello - the most experienced driver in F1 history - could even race the Sauber at his home race at Interlagos for November's 2013 finale.

Oricchio said Barrichello is currently not answering his phone.

"He just sent a message saying 'who knows'," he wrote in O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper.

And Oricchio said F1 chief executive Ecclestone answered "good" when told of the prospect of Barrichello's return.

Monticello, NY - If you consider yourself a fan of Ford's Mustang, the name Roush likely creates a warm feeling. If not, know that this company was founded by Jack Roush in 1976 and has been dedicated to making cars go fast ever since.

At this year's IMPA Test days, Roush had a sampling of two of its coolest products on hand: One was a 590 horsepower Ford SVT Raptor and the other, a Stage 3 Mustang.

Of the 3 stages available for the ‘Stang, the 3rd is the most badass. This car is the fantastic result of go-fast bits that put some show up front, but tonnes of go at the slightest touch of the throttle. As mad as this Mustang is, it can easily be tamed for daily drives, but it would be a shame not to mash the gas and soak in the rush -- sorry, Roush.


What is a Ford Mustang Roush Stage 3?
As mentioned, one does not get higher up on the Roush ladder than Stage 3. This car is nearly as close as a street-legal, race-prepped Mustang can get.

Roush's vision of the true American sports car is embodied in the 2014 Ford Mustang Roush Stage 3 (RS3) where power, performance and handling all come together with purpose.

Roush Enterprises are based in Michigan and through its many branches including aerospace and engineering, employs 4,000 people.

This car is nearly as close as a street-legal, race-prepped Mustang can get. (Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre)

2014 Ford Mustang Roush Stage 3 Price and Specs
The 2014 Ford Mustang Roush Stage 3 is all about the supercharger. Sitting on top of Ford's Coyote 5.0L V8 is Eaton's Twin Vortices Series (TVS) R2300 charger. It, along with Roush's intercooler and ECU “boost,” push the V8's output to 575 horsepower and 505 lb-ft of torque.

Should one be so inclined, 625- and 675-horsepower versions are available.

The tested car (like all RS3s) received a complete complement of comprehensive upgrades to put all that power to good use. The upgraded sport suspension is matched to a larger front stabilizer bar and rear anti-wheel hop upper control arm. The suspension keeps specially developed Cooper Zeon RS3-S tires in constant contact with the tarmac.

The Roush Stage 3 package adds $17,000 USD to the price of a 2014 Ford Mustang GT. From there, thousands more can be added for brake upgrades, wheels, interior accent and more. As tested, the car in the pictures retailed for just under $60,000 USD.

The 2014 Ford Mustang Roush Stage 3 is all about the supercharger. Sitting on top of Ford's Coyote 5.0L V8 is Eaton's Twin Vortices Series (TVS) R2300 charger. (Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre)

Driving the Ford Mustang Roush Stage 3
The promise of a special Mustang driving experience was lure enough to get me to drive the car. Then, I heard the car start and sanity left me thanks to the dual-chamber performance exhaust system which itself is not street-legal in some States, and likely some Provinces.

The cataclysmic burble and thunder that escapes is but a taste of what this car does. Don't think that this is an unruly big-muscle-car. My drive on the roads surrounding the Monticello Motorsports Club demonstrated how civilized it can be. Over rough surfaces, the car remained poised and comfortable.

Clutch and shifter action are barely heavier than the base GT's, and brake pedal response is good, not grabby. Honestly, I expected to have my hands full, but didn't. In fact, I wanted more charger whine and more drama, but none was had.

However, on the track at wide-open throttle the Roush Stage 3 gobbled volumes of air and covered ground at a massive pace. Power delivery was linear and predictable which made punching it out of corners highly possible.

Never out of control, the Mustang stayed true to the line I wanted it to take. My biggest complaint was the lack of bite from the front end on turn-in. In fact, this is where the Roush lost what was otherwise a favourable comparison to my beloved Boss 302. I went out on the track numerous times and negotiated the car quite well to find that its limits were still slightly beyond my own. Even at my own 8/10, the Mustang was barely beginning to slide out of its comfort zone.

And that exhaust note! Good God!

The cataclysmic burble and thunder that escapes the dual-chamber performance exhaust system is but a taste of what this car does. (Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre)

Inside and out of the Ford Mustang Roush Stage 3
The 2014 Ford Mustang Roush Stage 3's cabin is generally unchanged from the stock car. It can, however, be spec'd out with aluminum pedals (yes), suede steering wheel (yes), illuminated door sills (no), and vent-mounted boost gauge (no).

The outside gets a Roush aero body kit and high-flow upper grille that immediately sets the car apart from the regular GT. The 20” wheels (optional) are a must as is the hood scoop (standard with the RS3). Of the available shell colours and graphic package colour options, none are wrong.

The Roush Stage 3 looks special, as it should, as a low-volume tuner car.

The 2014 Ford Mustang Roush Stage 3's cabin is generally unchanged from the stock car. (Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre)

Comparing the Ford Mustang Roush Stage 3
The car competes against many other tuned pony cars. The issue is that a 1,000-horsepower Camaro or Mustang is possible so long as money is not a problem.

If you are in the market for this kind of car, consider Lingenfelter, Callaway or Hennessey as some of the better-known aftermarket companies that make these great cars even better.

From GMM

Kimi Raikkonen is unable to say if he will definitely be fit for the weekend's Korean grand prix.

Albeit ultimately on the podium, the Finn struggled through the last event in Singapore with a back injury.

His trainer Mark Arnall said late last week that Raikkonen will be fit for Korea, but the 2007 world champion has admitted: "We will have to see how it is when I get out on track on Friday."

Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus, Singapore. (Photo: WRi2)

Korea will be the 33-year-old's sixth-last grand prix for Lotus before switching to Ferrari for 2014.

Team boss Eric Boullier insists he is in no rush to name the successor, amid reports Nico Hulkenberg and Felipe Massa are the frontrunners.

"When it comes to drivers, we are not simply looking for a short-term replacement for Kimi," he said. "We are looking at where we are going to be in the next five years."

Eric Boullier is referring to reports Lotus' immediate priority is its future on the financial front.

Referring again to the 2014 driver vacancy, he said: "We can afford to be patient -- to ask the candidates to wait as we formulate our strategy for the coming years."

General Motors, introducing its first redesigned pickups since 2006, can't make enough of the most popular versions of its new Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, three people familiar with the effort told Bloomberg.

Mazda is recalling 161,400 Mazda6 sedans in the United States over defective door latches. The recalls affect Mazda6 models built before Aug. 24, 2012, for the 2009-2013 model years.

America's love affair with the automobile was on full display this weekend as thousands of people converged on a muddy field in rural Nebraska for the auction of one of the nation's largest collections of vintage Chevrolets

Editors note: The auction is done, and so is the live stream. Be sure to check out our look at the top sales from day 2 here.

Day 1 of the

Lapo Elkann, whose older brother John is Fiat chairman, has become as a global ambassador for Italian design after a past as the wild child of Italy's billionaire Agnelli family.

Bulgaria is stepping up efforts to win more auto industry investment to build on the success of attracting a new vehicle plant for China's Great Wall Motors.

Carmakers in Brazil are anticipating leases will spur demand for new models as a tax incentive expires and companies such as Audi start local production.

Mitsubishi's U.S. dealers desperate for compelling new product will instead be getting the Mirage.

The dashing Lapo Elkann is one of Italy's most eligible bachelors and habitué of male best-dressed lists. He has flirted with scandal and nearly died of a drug overdose in 2005. But those days are long gone.

Lexus' F Sport lineup is moving into a higher gear.

Rudolf Diesel, who invented the engine that bears his name, disappeared under strange circumstances on the evening of September 29th, 1913, while crossing the English Channel on the Dresden post office steamer.

Was it a suicide? A murder? No one knows exactly, even to this day, but Diesel was a German engineer born in France, and pre-WWI tensions were already high.

Diesel obtained patents for his design in Germany and other countries in 1897. Three years later, at the Exposition Universelle (world's fair) in Paris, he presented the first ''heavy oil'' engine on the market.

Mercedes (1936) and Peugeot (1938) sold the first Diesel-powered passenger cars in history.

From press release

Kevin Magnussen wins race 2 at circuit Paul Ricard, getting closer to title before the last round in Barcelona.

Kevin Magnussen (DAMS), the dominant force all weekend, was stripped of his Formula Renault 3.5 Series race victory on Saturday after his car was found to have breached technical regulations.

But the Dane bounced back on Sunday with victory in race two, finishing ahead of Nico Müller (International Draco Racing) and Antonio Félix da Costa (Arden Caterham).

The championship leader goes into the next round in Barcelona with a 43-point lead over Stoffel Vandoorne (Fortec Motorsports), who retired towards the end.

From press release

Brendon Hartley and Jonatha Hirschi won the last round of the European Le Mans Series at Le Castellet in the Murphy Prototypes Oreca-Nissan, as Nelson Panciatici and Pierre Ragues clinched the title driving their Signatech Alpine.

Natacha Gachnang and Christian Klien took second place driving their Morand Racing Morgan-Judd ahead of the Jota Sport Zytek driven by Simon Dolan and Oliver Turvey.

However the day belonged to the Signatech Alpine team and the driver line up Nelson Panciatici and Pierre Ragues who were crowned 2013 ELMS Champions despite finishing 4th overall after a unscheduled pitstop for a replacement steering wheel.

Photo: Signature-team.com

Their nearest rivals for the title, Thiriet by TDS Racing and Pierre Thiriet had a torrid race after Mathias Beche lost a rear wheel forcing the car into the pits for several laps and destroying any title hopes they had.

The LMPC title went to Gary Hirsch and Paul Loup Chatin but the victory belonged to Soheil Ayari and Anthony Pons again despite technical issues for the championship winning car, forcing the team to take the car to the paddock for repairs.

However the Team Endurance Challenge crew got the car back on track and they secured enough points to be confirmed as 2013 champions.

Matt Griffin and Johnny Mowlem dominated the LMGTE proceeding to take the 2013 title in style with their third win of the season in the No. 52 RAM Racing Ferrari.

In GTC  the No. 69 SMP Racing Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 of Fabio Babini, Viktor Shaitar and Kirill Ladygin took their 4th win from four starts in the 2013 ELMS to take the GTC title for the Russian team in their inaugural season on the European stage.