Auto News 5

General Motors said it will integrate its Russian operations into its GM Europe business in a move that will help the automaker's struggling Opel brand.

General Motors said it will integrate its Russian operations into its GM Europe business in a move that will help the automaker's struggling Opel brand.

Media giant Publicis has won a three-way battle to win Daimler's pan-European business.

Toyota is recalling a number of models built in factories in the US to correct a potential problem affecting the air conditioning evaporator unit housing.

China's "one-child" policy has resulted in an overall decline in the share of working-age people in the population. As growth of the labour force slows, employers have to compete for workers and wages thus continue to rise, boosting household incomes and vehicle demand. The programme has also resulted in smaller households, a notable contraction in the size of the young workforce and an unnaturally high ratio of boys to girls. Neil King, analyst at Euromonitor, spoke to Dave Leggett about the implications for auto sales.

New vehicle sales in Malaysia jumped by 19.6% to 54,945 units in September, from 45,925 units a year earlier, according to data released by the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA).

Last week (10 October) saw Scandinavian components body, FKG's Annual Suppliers Forum in Gothenburg, attended by 450 delegates. Grouped here is a snapshot of the day.

New vehicle sales in Thailand fell by 28.5% to 94,859 units in September, according to data released by the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), from abnormally high year-earlier volumes levels of 132,680 units.

European vehicle sales are likely to rise 2.5 percent in 2014, the first increase for seven years, a think tank affiliated with Hyundai said.

European vehicle sales are likely to rise 2.5 percent in 2014, the first increase for seven years, a think tank affiliated with Hyundai Motor said today.

Ford has the biggest display space of any manufacturer at

Valeo said its third-quarter sales rose as demand grew in China and North America and the European car market showed signs of stabilizing.

Porsche will open its largest Porsche Experience Center next year in Los Angeles to allow Porsche owners and potential customers to test the automaker's sports cars.

BMW has released images and details of the 4-series convertible, which will launch in Europe early next year, after debuting at the LA auto show in November.

The BMW i3 is a big Web winner. The electric car's Frankfurt auto show debut led to huge increases in coverage via online news stories, Twitter posts and blog mentions.

Audi expects that heavy investments to launch new models and expand production plants will nearly halve its operating profit margin to 6 percent in 2015, a report said.

From GMM

Felipe Nasr, whose name rhymes with that of his Ferrari-racing countryman, is hopeful of breaking into formula one in 2014.

Earlier, the 21-year-old was linked with the vacant Toro Rosso seat, but it is now believed more likely he will sign a test and reserve contract.

Nasr, third in the GP2 standings and backed by Sky Brasil and Banco do Brasil, is managed by Kimi Raikkonen's manager Steve Robertson.

He is also said to have the support of F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone, who is worried Felipe Massa's potential exit would leave the important Brazilian market unrepresented on the grid.

Nasr told Brazil's Globo he is still in the running to make his grand prix debut next season.

Felipe Nasr, GP2 (Photo: Paolo Pellegrini/FelipeNasr.com)

"I am keeping the goal.  We are looking for it," he said.

But he admitted that becoming a reserve driver is "undoubtedly something that is also in the plans".

"You can see the examples of Hulkenberg and Bottas, who did the Fridays (practice sessions for a season) before coming in as race drivers.

"For me it would be good," he added, "because I don't know all the tracks.  So to get this sort of mileage would be very important."

Todd Parrott, the crew chief best known for guiding Dale Jarrett to a NASCAR Cup Championship in 1999, has been suspended indefinitely for violation of the sanctioning body's substance abuse policy.

In a brief release NASCAR public relations stated:

“On Oct. 17, Parrott was found to have violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 19 (violation of the NASCAR Substance Abuse Policy) of the 2013 NASCAR Rule Book.”

Typically NASCAR does not disclose the identity of the forbidden substance, but, offers the “NASCAR Road to Recovery Program” where the person may be rehabilitated. The most famous graduate of that program is driver A.J. Allmendinger who has return to a full-time drive for next year.

Parrott is currently the crew chief for Aric Almirola's No.43 which is owned by Richard Petty Motorsports.

As a crew chief he's credited with 31 victories including two Daytona 500 wins with Dale Jarrett (1996 and 2000) at Robert Yates Racing. His last win was in 2012 at Watkins Glen with Australia's Marcos Ambrose at the wheel. He was also the crew chief for Matt Kenseth.

Parrott with Ambrose (Photo: NASCAR)

Parrott joined the predecessor Richard Petty Motorsports in 2006 and is the son of Buddy Parrott who was a one-time crew chief for Petty the seven-time NASCAR champion.

Statement from Richard Petty Motorsports:

“Sammy Johns, Vice President of Operations and Competition, will handle crew chief duties on the No. 43 Ford this weekend at Talladega. He will also handle these duties on an interim basis until further notice.

"We have an expectation of all RPM employees to conduct themselves at the highest level of professionalism and within the competitive confines as set forth by NASCAR," said Johns.

"We are very disappointed that one of our employees did not meet our expectations and we completely support NASCAR, their policies and final decisions when it comes to the substance abuse policy."

From ALMS

After three days of testing under ideal conditions at Road Atlanta, light rain greeted competitors for the opening round of official practice for Saturday's 16th Petit Le Mans Powered By Mazda, the last ever race of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS).

Lucas Luhr topped the time sheets in the first session with  1:26.407 aboard the No. 6 Muscle Milk Pickett Racing HPD ARX-03c co-driven by Klaus Graf and Romain Dumas. Graf led the 18 teams choosing to participate in the day's second practice session, also held in a light rain shower.

Second in the morning was the No. 0 DeltaWing LM12 coupe of Andy Meyrick, 1:28.531. Co-driver Katherine Legge was also second in the afternoon.

Jan Magnussen, looking to wrap up the GT championship along with co-driver Antonio Garcia, led the class and was third overall with a lap of 1:29.499 in the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6 ZR1. GRAND-AM DP champ Jordan Taylor will also co-drive in Saturday's race.

Corvette Racing was 1-2 in the morning session, with Tommy Milner turning a lap of 1:29.829 in the No. 4 entry shared with Oliver Gavin and Richard Westbrook.

There were several spins on the slippery track, with the lone damage sustained when Stefan Johannson impacted the Turn 5 barrier and damaged the rear suspension of the No. 8 BAR1 Motorsports Merchant Services LTD/Evident Capital/MBRP Performance Exhaust ORECA LLM09 co-driven by Chris Cumming and Kyle Marcelli.

A two-hour night practice session will begin at 7 p.m.

From press release

After three years of absence, Dean Stoneman will make his single seaters return when he will race the last rounds of the GP3 championship with Koiranen GP on circuit of Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi, on November 2nd and 3rd.

Dean Stoneman commented: “I can't wait to get back to this type of racing. The last time I was in a single-seater was in the Williams F1 car in 2010 for the rookie test in Abu Dhabi. It will be special to be part of the F1 race weekend and the atmosphere that goes with it.

“I really want to thank Koiranen for the chance and its something I'm going to grab with both hands.”

The young driver had seen his racing life stopped in 2010 when he was diagnosed with Advanced Testicular Cancer.

Stoneman continued: “In 2010 I had the world at my feet. I was FIA F2 Champion and enjoyed a successful test with Williams and life couldn't be better.

“I had just signed to be Daniel Ricciardo's teammate in Renault World Series when I received the hammer blow and my racing and life was put on hold for two tough years. Returning to Abu Dhabi will be very special indeed.” 

Photo: gp3series.com)

This year has seen Dean Stoneman's full-time return to racing with a win in Carrera Cup GP Championship at Brands Hatch last weekend, followed by three days competing in the Middle East Radical Cup in Yas Marina, in preparation to his return in GP3 series.

Dean Stoneman will take part to a two-days testing programme with Koiranen GP immediately after the race weekend, in Yas Marina circuit.

The date is set, Dean Stoneman will be back on track in two weeks at the wheel of a Koiranen GP's car along with his weekend's teammates Kevin Korjus and Patrick Kujala.